Age-specific SARS-CoV-2 transmission differed from human rhinovirus in households during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Children are generally considered main drivers of transmission for respiratory viruses, but the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 challenged this paradigm. Human rhinovirus (RV) continued to co-circulate throughout the pandemic, allowing for direct comparison of age-specific infectivity and susceptibility within households between these viruses during a time of low SARS-CoV-2 population immunity. METHODS: Households with children were prospectively monitored for ≥23 weeks between August 2020 and July 2021. Upon onset of respiratory symptoms in a household, an outbreak study was initiated, including questionnaires and repeated nasal self-sampling in all household members. Swabs were tested by PCR. Age-stratified within-household secondary attack rates (SARs) were compared between SARS-CoV-2 and RV. RESULTS: A total of 307 households participated, including 582 children and 627 adults. Overall, SAR was lower for SARS-CoV-2 than for RV (aOR 0.55) and age distributions differed between both viruses (p < 0.001). Following household exposure, children were significantly less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to RV (aOR 0.16), whereas this was opposite in adults (aOR 1.71). CONCLUSION: In households, age-specific susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and RV differs and drives differences in household transmission between these pathogens. This highlights the importance of characterizing age-specific transmission risks, particularly for emerging infections, to guide appropriate infection control interventions.

Traumatic Penile Injury: An Analysis of the Patient Age with Aetiological Type and Injury Severity in a Single Centre.

BACKGROUND: Penile trauma is associated with debilitating complications. Apart from its sparse literature, contextually relevant evidence on aetiology and standardized severity grading, and its stratification by legal age are needed. This study aimed to describe the frequency, aetiology and injury severity grade of patients, and explore the association of specific factors by legal age. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in our centre. Male patients with penile trauma managed by urologists were included. Data on age, year of presentation, aetiology, penile injury extent and co-existing genitourethral injuries were obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were undertaken using SPSS and MedCalc. Pvalue < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Forty-two patient records were analyzed. The median age and interquartile range for legal minors and legal adults were 9.5 (5.0-14.8) years and 31.0 (22.5-41.0) years, and they constituted 28.6% (n=12) and 71.4% (n=30) of the study population respectively. Penile trauma was isolated in 26.2% (n=11) of the total population.Its annual frequency was below the median volume between 2001 and 2008 but shifted to a rate above the average level between 2017 and 2021. The rate of conveyor belt-related aetiology and high-grade trauma was 41.7% and 75.0% in legal minors while it was 26.1% and 53.3% respectively in legal adults. CONCLUSIONS: Grade IV trauma was the most predominant while conveyor belt injury was the most common cause of the injury. Albeit limitations of statistical comparison, the rate of conveyor belt injury and high-grade trauma was numerically high in legal minors.

CONTEXTE: Les traumatismes du pénis sont associés à des complications débilitantes. Outre la rareté de la littérature, des preuves contextuel l ement per tinentes sur l ' étiol ogie et l a classification standardisée de la gravité, ainsi que leur stratification par âge légal, sont nécessaires. Cette étude visait à décrire la fréquence, l'étiologie et le degré de gravité des blessures des patients, et à explorer l'association de facteurs spécifiques par âge légal. SUJETS, MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Une étude rétrospective transversale monocentrique a été réalisée dans notre centre. Les patients masculins ayant subi un traumatisme pénien pris en charge par des urologues ont été inclus. Les données sur l'âge, l'année de présentation, l'étiologie, l'étendue de la blessure pénienne et les blessures génito-urétrales coexistantes ont été obtenues. Des statistiques descriptives et inférentielles ont été réalisées à l'aide de SPSS et MedCalc. Une valeur de p < 0,05 a été considérée comme significative. RÉSULTATS: Quarante-deux dossiers de patients ont été analysés. L'âge médian et l'intervalle interquartile pour les mineurs légaux et les adultes légaux étaient de 9,5 (5,0-14,8) ans et 31,0 (22,5-41,0) ans, représentant respectivement 28,6 % (n=12) et 71,4 % (n=30) de la population étudiée. Le traumatisme pénien était isolé chez 26,2 % (n=11) de la population totale. Sa fréquence annuelle était inférieure au volume médian entre 2001 et 2008, mais a dépassé le niveau moyen entre 2017 et 2021. Le taux d'étiologie liée aux tapis roulants et de traumatismes graves était de 41,7 % et 75,0 % chez les mineurs légaux, contre 26,1 % et 53,3 % respectivement chez les adultes légaux. CONCLUSIONS: Le traumatisme de grade IV était le plus prédominant, tandis que les blessures causées par les tapis roulants étaient la cause la plus courante de lésion. Bien que limitées par des comparaisons statistiques, les taux de blessures par tapis roulant et de traumatismes graves étaient numériquement élevés chez les mineurs légaux. MOTS-CLÉS: Facteurs d'âge, Étiologie, Score de gravité des blessures, Pénis.

The roles of age, gender, and migration in shaping adolescent student satisfaction within Chilean schools.

This study has a quantitative cross-sectional design that aims to investigate the relationships between gender, age, status (migrant or Chilean-born), educational satisfaction, and overall life satisfaction among adolescent students in 7th and 8th grades of the Chilean educational system. The sample includes 406 students from four municipal public educational centers located in the Santiago district of the Metropolitan Region of Chile, with at least 20% migrant enrollment. The data were analyzed using quantitative methods using the R language, with descriptive analysis, cross-tabulation analysis, and independence tests. The packages used were: ggplot2, tidyverse and ggstatplot. The study found that age has an impact on the level of satisfaction with education and relationships formed with peers. Specifically, younger students expressed higher levels of satisfaction in these areas compared to older students. Moreover, foreign students showed a statistically significant difference in relation to age range, suggesting that as these students grow older, they tend to become less satisfied with the relationships they form with their classmates. In contrast, no statistically significant difference was found among Chilean students, indicating that the findings discussed here may not be generalizable to this specific population. The analysis also indicates a significant difference in the entire sample, suggesting a correlation between age range and level of satisfaction with schooling.

Syndromic case definitions for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) are less sensitive in older age: an analysis of symptoms among hospitalised adults.

BACKGROUND: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) pose a serious threat to older adults but may be underdiagnosed due to atypical presentations. Here we assess LRTI symptom profiles and syndromic (symptom-based) case ascertainment in older (≥ 65y) as compared to younger adults (< 65y). METHODS: We included adults (≥ 18y) with confirmed LRTI admitted to two acute care Trusts in Bristol, UK from 1st August 2020- 31st July 2022. Logistic regression was used to assess whether age ≥ 65y reduced the probability of meeting syndromic LRTI case definitions, using patients' symptoms at admission. We also calculated relative symptom frequencies (log-odds ratios) and evaluated how symptoms were clustered across different age groups. RESULTS: Of 17,620 clinically confirmed LRTI cases, 8,487 (48.1%) had symptoms meeting the case definition. Compared to those not meeting the definition these cases were younger, had less severe illness and were less likely to have received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or to have active SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prevalence of dementia/cognitive impairment and levels of comorbidity were lower in this group. After controlling for sex, dementia and comorbidities, age ≥ 65y significantly reduced the probability of meeting the case definition (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI:0.63-0.71). Cases aged ≥ 65y were less likely to present with fever and LRTI-specific symptoms (e.g., pleurisy, sputum) than younger cases, and those aged ≥ 85y were characterised by lack of cough but frequent confusion and falls. CONCLUSIONS: LRTI symptom profiles changed considerably with age in this hospitalised cohort. Standard screening protocols may fail to detect older and frailer cases of LRTI based on their symptoms.

Birth-cohort patterns of e-cigarette and other tobacco use among adolescents in the US.

BACKGROUND: E-cigarette use has increased considerably among US adolescents. While many studies have described cross-sectional prevalence trends of youth e-cigarette use, less is known about cohort or generational initiation and use patterns. METHODS: We used data from the US National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) from 2014 to 2022 and age-period-cohort models to analyze age-specific patterns of e-cigarette use initiation and prevalence by cohort and calendar. For comparison, we also examined initiation and prevalence for cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco, using NYTS data from 1999 to 2022. RESULTS: Age-specific e-cigarette initiation and prevalence varied considerably by calendar year and birth cohort. There was a rapid increase in e-cigarette initiation and prevalence starting with the 1995 birth cohort, peaking with the 2005 birth cohort, and showing signs of decline with more recent cohorts. In contrast, there were substantial continuous reductions in cigarette, cigar, and smokeless use initiation and prevalence by birth cohort. While the reductions in cigarette smoking started with the 1980s birth cohorts, cigar and smokeless initiation and prevalence did not decrease until the 1990-1995 cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their recent emergence, e-cigarette use has varied considerably across US adolescent cohorts. After early increases, e-cigarette use and initiation peaked with the 2005 birth cohort. These patterns are in contrast with the continuous decreases by cohort in cigarette, cigar, and smokeless use and initiation. As the tobacco product landscape continues to evolve, it will be essential to monitor patterns of use of adolescent and young adult cohorts as they age into adulthood.

Comparative study on the age-related incidence of seborrheic keratosis and verruca plana in patients with verruca plana-like lesions.

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common skin disease in the elderly. However, in cases where SK presenting as multiple skin-colored or clustered lesions can be easily misdiagnosed as verruca plana (VP), especially in the young population. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of SK and VP in the lesions that appear clinically similar to VP according to age. We examined the pathology slides of the skin tissue and photographs of patients who were clinically suspected to have VP. A total of 503 patients were included in the study, out of which 174 patients were finally diagnosed with SK (34.6%) and 132 with VP (26.2%). The mean ages of the SK- and VP-diagnosed group were 39.3 and 35.4 years, respectively. SK had a higher prevalence among individuals older than 30 years, and relative frequency of SK should not be ignored in patients with a grouped distribution in their 20 s and 30 s. Therefore, our study suggests that multiple verrucous skin-colored to brownish plaques are also commonly diagnosed as SK in young people as well as VP, and the prevalence of SK and VP may not always depend solely on chronological aging, and the prevalence of SK among young people may be higher than commonly believed stereotypes suggest.

Age-related pharmacokinetics differences were observed between young and elderly populations of a novel PDE5 inhibitor, youkenafil, and its metabolite M459.

PURPOSE: Youkenafil is a novel oral selective PDE5 inhibitor for treating Erectile Dysfunction. This investigation assessed pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of youkenafil and its main metabolite (M459) after taking 100 mg youkenafil hydrochloride tablets in elderly and young subjects. METHODS: This Phase I, single-center, open-label, parallel-group, single-dose study was conducted on 24 individuals (12 elders and 12 youngsters). Each subject received a single oral 100 mg youkenafil hydrochloride tablets. Blood samples were collected before medication and up to 48 h after medication for PK analysis. Safety and tolerability were also assessed, including treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), laboratory tests, 12-lead ECG, vital sign inspections, color vision examinations, and physical examinations. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of youkenafil and M459 were quantified. PK parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis. Median Tmax of elderly and young groups were both 0.733 h. However, Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ of youkenafil were separately 16.8 %, 37.2 %, and 37.5 % higher in elders and t1/2 of youkenafil was 2.1 h longer in elders. More great differences were observed for M459. T1/2 values were 4.05 h longer in elders, with Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ 73.7 %, 81.1 %, and 81.4 % higher in elders. Two (8.3 %) elderly subjects reported TEAEs (all grade Ⅰ in severity) and both recovered without any treatment. No serious adverse reactions (SAEs) or serious unexpected suspected adverse reactions (SUSARs) occurred in this study. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first PK research of youkenafil and M459 in elderly men. PK parameters differences between youkenafil and M459 were comparable between elderly and young groups. Moreover, safety and tolerability of youkenafil were favorable in both groups.

Nationwide study on open tibial fractures in the Netherlands: Incidence, demographics and level of hospital care.

OBJECTIVES: Open tibial fractures are relatively common injuries following traffic accidents. The vulnerability of the soft tissues surrounding the tibia increases the susceptibility to complications, including infection and nonunion. To minimize complications, a multidisciplinary, timely approach is crucial. To date, the Dutch incidence and level of hospital treatment remain unknown due to a lack of condition-specific nationwide registries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and management of open tibial fractures in the Netherlands, providing essential information for public health policymaking and guideline development. METHODS: The 2018 and 2019 Dutch National Hospital Care Basic Registration data, provided by the Dutch Hospital Data Foundation, were utilized to identify all patients admitted to Dutch hospitals with tibial fractures. Incidence rates, patient demographics, primary diagnoses, fracture classification, level of hospital, and length of hospital stays were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 1,079 ICD-10 codes for closed and open tibial fractures were identified in patients that were admitted to a Dutch hospital. Thirty-four percent were classified as open tibial fractures, accounting for an estimated incidence rate of 1.1 per 100,000 person-years (95 % CI 0.97-1.12). When categorized by age, the calculated incidence rate was higher in males for all age categories up until the age of 70. Notably, the overall highest incidence rate was found for females aged 90 and above (6.6 per 100,000 person-years). Open tibial fractures were predominantly treated in general or top clinical hospitals (comprising 69 % of open all tibia fractures). Notably, the minority (31 %) presented at university medical centers, all Level-1 trauma centers, equipped with orthoplastic teams. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the nationwide incidence rate of open tibial fractures in the Netherlands; 34 % of tibial fractures were registered as open. Notably, a limited proportion of open tibial fractures underwent treatment within Level-1 trauma centers. Consequently, in the majority of cases, the implementation of an orthoplastic team approach was unattainable. This study underscores the need for more comprehensive data collection to assess and improve the current treatment landscape.

Penile Trauma Burden and Aetiology in the Paediatric and Adult Population: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis of the Literature.

Penile trauma is rare. It is associated with the impairment of physiological functions and deterioration in patients' quality of life. Currently, the relevance of age demographics in the occurrence of this debilitating injury has not been well discussed. The objective of this study was to provide a scoping review of penile trauma within the lens of the legal age of maturity. A search of the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted, and then, the identified publications were used to conduct this scoping review focussing on the study aim. The results identified were categorised into five themes. This included publication information (author, year, country, study duration); demographic information (age of presentation, number of patients, relative burden); penile trauma clinical pattern (type, severity, associated injury), risk factors and clinical consequences. While mobile and active young adults were at risk of outdoor trauma, the report on penile trauma in the paediatric population is rare and usually focussed on sexual trauma. Penetrating trauma has been more extensively studied in comparison to blunt penile trauma despite the significance of the latter in the paediatric population. Injury severity classification is not available for most studies limiting their usefulness in the universal comparison of trauma severity and injury prognostication. There is a diversity in the burden and presentation of penile trauma. Available research studies are limited in the paediatric population, mostly focussed on penile fracture in adults and generally devoid of a standardised penile trauma severity description. Additional studies with a specific focus on penile trauma are required to characterise aetiological risks and injury severity across the legal age of maturity.

Patient Age and EGFR-positive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The median age of subjects in many clinical trials of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor conducted to date has been approximately 60 years. However, it is not uncommon to encounter EGFR gene-positive patients in their 70s or 80s. Based on information obtained from these clinical trials, EGFR gene-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are considered to be younger than EGFR-negative patients. In this study, we analyzed clinical data to identify whether this assumption is true. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of NSCLC patients diagnosed in a multicenter clinical practice from 2009 to 2023. Patients included all cases of non-advanced and advanced NSCLC. RESULTS: Information on 2,540 patients, including 605 EGFR gene-positive patients, was collected. The median age of EGFR-positive and EGFR-negative patients was 72 years and 71 years, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the age of patients between these two groups (p=0.7887). The most common age in these two groups was 70 years. Among the EGFR gene subtypes, the frequency of exon 19 deletion decreased with age, whereas that of EGFR L858R increased. CONCLUSION: Patients in their 70s and 80s with non-small cell lung cancer were relatively frequently EGFR gene-positive. To avoid missing out on treatment opportunities, EGFR gene testing should also be performed on patients in this age group.

The Effect of Limb Salvage Efforts in Different Age Groups: Relationships Between Major and Minor Amputations.

"Limb salvage" efforts, such as performing minor amputations before infections spread proximally from the foot to decrease major lower extremity amputation, are an important part of healthcare today. It is unclear whether these efforts are preventing the number of major amputations and improving patients' quality of life and the cost-effectiveness of the U.S. healthcare system. Rates of non-traumatic lower extremity amputation (NLEA) among patients with diabetes decreased in the early 2000s but rebounded in the 2010s. We analyzed the proportion of major amputations and differences in amputation rates between age groups in Texas. Patient data was extracted from the Texas Hospital Discharge Data Public Use Data File. Population estimates were obtained from the Texas Population Estimates Program from 2011 to 2015 and from intercensal estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau from 2006 to 2010. Raw numbers of minor, major, and all NLEA surgeries and the ratio of major amputations to total amputations per year were reported for each age group. Poisson regression and Joinpoint analyses were performed to capture these changes in trends. Rates of amputations increased, with significant decreasing relative prevalence of major amputations. Patients aged 45 to 64 with diabetes are likely driving these increases. Rates of lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes increased from 2009 to 2015. This holds for all and minor amputations. In contrast, the ratio of major to all amputations decreased from 2010. Utilization of major and minor amputation differs between age groups, remaining stable in the youngest subjects, with minor amputation rates increasing in those aged 45 to 64.

Reality of treatment for severely injured patients: are there age-specific differences?

BACKGROUND: Major trauma and its consequences are one of the leading causes of death worldwide across all age groups. Few studies have conducted comparative age-specific investigations. It is well known that children respond differently to major trauma than elderly patients due to physiological differences. The aim of this study was to analyze the actual reality of treatment and outcomes by using a matched triplet analysis of severely injured patients of different age groups. METHODS: Data from the TraumaRegister DGU® were analyzed. A total of 56,115 patients met the following inclusion criteria: individuals with Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale > 2 and < 6, primary admission, from German-speaking countries, and treated from 2011-2020. Furthermore, three age groups were defined (child: 3-15 years; adult: 20-50 years; and elderly: 70-90 years). The matched triplets were defined based on the following criteria: 1. exact injury severity of the body regions according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (head, thorax, abdomen, extremities [including pelvis], and spine) and 2. level of the receiving hospital. RESULTS: A total of 2,590 matched triplets could be defined. Traffic accidents were the main cause of severe injury in younger patients (child: 59.2%; adult: 57.9%). In contrast, low falls (from < 3 m) were the most frequent cause of accidents in the elderly group (47.2%). Elderly patients were least likely to be resuscitated at the scene. Both children and elderly patients received fewer therapeutic interventions on average than adults. More elderly patients died during the clinical course, and their outcome was worse overall, whereas the children had the lowest mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, a large patient population was used to demonstrate that both elderly patients and children may have received less invasive treatment compared with adults who were injured with exactly the same severity (with the outcomes of these two groups being opposite to each other). Future studies and recommendations should urgently consider the different age groups.

Efeito da idade-período-coorte na mortalidade por câncer do colo do útero no Centro-Oeste do Brasil, 1980-2019 / Age-period-cohort effect on cervical cancer mortality in the Center-West of Brazil, 1980-2019 / Efecto edad-período-cohorte en la mortalidad por cáncer de cuello uterino en el Centro-Oeste de Brasil, 1980-2019

Objetivos: analisar o efeito da idade-período-coorte nas taxas de mortalidade por câncer do colo do útero no Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Métodos: estudo ecológico de séries temporais, de 1980 a 2019, cujas fontes de dados foram o Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade e as estimativas populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Modelos de efeito idade-período-corte com distribuição de Poisson foram usados. Resultados: observaram-se 19.260 óbitos, correspondente à taxa de mortalidade padronizada média de 17,23/100 mil mulheres. O efeito da idade indicou aumento progressivo das taxas com o avançar da idade. O efeito do período evidenciou redução do risco de morte no Distrito Federal (2015-2019), Mato Grosso do Sul (2010-2014) e Mato Grosso (2010-2019), além de aumento em Goiás (2015-2019). O efeito da coorte revelou aumento do risco de morte para as nascidas antes de 1950-1954 e redução nas gerações a partir de 1955-1959. Conclusão: há evidências de efeito da idade-período-coorte na mortalidade por câncer do colo do útero no Centro-Oeste brasileiro, o que demanda fortalecimento de ações para sua prevenção e controle voltadas para mulheres de coortes e idades sob maior risco de morrer por essa causa.

Objectives: to analyze the effect of age-period-cohort on cervical cancer mortality rates in the Center-West of Brazil. Methods: ecological time series study from 1980 to 2019, utilizing data from the Mortality Information System and population estimates from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Age-period-cohort effect models with Poisson distribution were employed. Results: 19,260 deaths were observed, corresponding to an average standardized mortality rate of 17.23/100,000 women. The age effect indicated a progressive increase in rates as age advanced. The period effect showed a reduction in the risk of death in the Federal District (2015-2019), Mato Grosso do Sul (2010-2014), and Mato Grosso (2010-2019), as well as an increase in Goiás (2015-2019). The cohort effect showed an increase in the risk of death for those born before 1950-1954 and a reduction in the generations from 1955-1959 onwards. Conclusion: there is evidence of an age-period-cohort effect on mortality from cervical cancer in the Brazilian Center-West, which calls for the strengthening of actions for its prevention and control aimed at women of cohorts and ages at greater risk of dying from this cause.

Objetivos: análisis del efecto de la edad-período-cohorte en las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer de cuello uterino en el centro-oeste de Brasil. Métodos:estudio de series temporales ecológicas, de 1980 a 2019, cuyas fuentes de datos fueron el Sistema de Información de Mortalidad y las estimaciones de población del Instituto Brasileño de Geografía y Estadística. Se utilizaron modelos de efecto edad-período-corte con distribución de Poisson. Resultados: se registraron 19.260 fallecimientos, lo que corresponde a una tasa media de mortalidad estandarizada de 17,23/100.000 mujeres. El efecto edad indicó un aumento progresivo de las tasas con el avance de la edad. El efecto período mostró una reducción del riesgo de muerte en el Distrito Federal (2015-2019), Mato Grosso do Sul (2010-2014) y Mato Grosso (2010-2019), así como un aumento en Goiás (2015-2019). El efecto cohorte mostró un aumento del riesgo de muerte para los nacidos antes de 1950-1954 y una reducción en las generaciones a partir de 1955-1959. Conclusión: hay evidencias de un efecto edad-período-cohorte en la mortalidad por cáncer de cuello uterino en el Centro-Oeste brasileño, lo que exige el refuerzo de las acciones para su prevención y control dirigidas a las mujeres de cohortes y edades con mayor riesgo de morir por esta causa.

Expression of miR-210-3p in the aqueous humor of patients with age-related cataracts and its effect on human lens epithelial cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide / Expressão de miR-210-3p no humor aquoso de pacientes com catarata relacionada à idade e seu efeito na lesão de células epiteliais do cristalino humano induzida por peróxido de hidrogênio

ABSTRACT Purpose: The regulatory effect of microRNA on diseases has been confirmed. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of microRNA-210-3p in age-related cataracts and assess the effect of abnormal miR-210-3p expressions on H2O2-induced SAR01/04 cells. Methods: Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was performed to assess the levels of miR-210-3p in aqueous humor samples. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was employed to assess the discrimination ability of miR-210-3p between patients with age-related cataracts and healthy people, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the correlation between miR-210-3p and oxidative stress indices such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malonaldehyde. Cell counting kit-8 assay and Transwell assay were used to estimate the biological function of H2O2-induced age-related cataract cell model. The levels of oxidative stress indices such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malonaldehyde were measured to evaluate the degree of oxidative stress damage in the age-related cataract cell model. The relationship between miR-210-3p and its target gene was verified by luciferase reporter gene analysis. Results: The miR-210-3p expression was elevated in the aqueous humor of patients with age-related cataracts. A high miR-210-3p expression showed a high diagnostic value for age-related cataracts and was significantly associated with the level of oxidative stress markers in patients with age-related cataracts. The inhibition of miR-210-3p can reverse oxidative stress stimulation and adverse effects on H2O2-induced cell function. Conclusions: The results suggested that miR-210-3p could promote cell viability, cell migration, and oxidative stress by targeting autophagy-related gene 7 in in vitro age-related cataract cell model.

RESUMO Objetivo: O efeito regulador do microRNA em doenças tem sido confirmado, e este artigo tentou avaliar a expressão do microRNA-210-3p na catarata relacionada à idade e avaliar o efeito da expressão anormal do miR-210-3p em células SAR01/04 induzidas por H2O2. Métodos: O método de transcrição reversa seguida de reação em cadeia da polimerase (RT-PCR) quantitativa foi realizado para avaliar os níveis de miR-210-3p em amostras de humor aquoso. Análise de características operacionais do receptor foi feita para avaliar a capacidade de discriminação do miR-210-3p entre pacientes com catarata relacionada à idade e pessoas saudáveis. A análise de correlação de Pearson identificou a correlação do miR-210-3p e índices de estresse oxidativo, como superóxido dismutase, glutationa peroxidase, malonaldeído. O ensaio de contagem de células kit-8 (cck-8) e o ensaio no sistema Transwell foram utilizados para estimar a função biológica do formato de células de catarata relacionada com a idade induzida por H2O2. Os níveis de índices de estresse oxidativo como superóxido dismutase, glutationa peroxidase e malonaldeído foram detectados para avaliar o grau de dano do estresse oxidativo em formato de células de catarata relacionada à idade. A relação entre miR-210-3p e seu gene alvo foi verificada por análise do gene repórter luciferase. Resultados: A expressão miR-210-3p foi elevada no humor aquoso de pacientes com catarata relacionada à idade. A expressão miR-210-3p altamente expressiva mostrou alto valor diagnóstico para catarata relacionada à idade e foi significativamente associado ao nível de marcadores de estresse oxidativo em pacientes com catarata relacionada à idade. A inibição de miR-210-3p pode reverter a estimulação do estresse oxidativo e os efeitos adversos da função celular induzida por H2O2. Conclusões: Esses dados sugeriram que a expressão miR-210-3p poderia promover a viabilidade celular, migração celular e estresse oxidativo ao direcionar genes ATG 7 relacionados à autofagia em modelo in vitro de células de catarata relacionadas à idade.

Effects of sputum bacillary load and age on GeneXpert and traditional methods in pulmonary tuberculosis: a 4-year retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the GeneXpert® MTB/RIF (Xpert®), Auramine O staining method, and Lowenstein-Jensen medium for bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and explore the effects of the sputum bacillary load (SBL) and qRT‒PCR threshold cycle (Ct) value on the detection methods. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the results in the Department of Infectious Disease for 49 months. The χ2 test was used to compare the performances of each method, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off values, and the factors associated with a false-negative result from Xpert® were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Simultaneous analysis of 980 sputum specimens showed that the positive detection rate of Xpert® did not increase with increasing SBL, and there were differences between the three when SBL ≤ 1 + (all P < 0.05). There was a good negative correlation between the Ct value and the SBL (P < 0.0001). Age was an independent risk factor for false-negative Xpert® results (P = 0.029), and when Ct < 16, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were both 100.00%. The optimal cut-off Ct values for resegmentation based on the drug resistance classification were < 18.6, 18.6-34.1, and > 34.1 cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Xpert® was not affected by SBL but it was by age, and it is more advantageous when SBL ≤ 1 + . The results regarding rifampicin resistance were reliable, and the novel Ct segmentation was a practical and more clinically meaningful classification method for diagnosing rifampicin resistance. These findings will help improve physicians' ability to accurately diagnose TB.

[Características demográficas y clínicas de los pacientes sometidos a artroscopia del manguito rotador del hombro: estudio observacional.] / Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing rotator cuff arthroscopy of the shoulder: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The most common cause of shoulder pain is clinical pictures related to rotator cuff problems. One of the most common treatments is arthroscopic surgery. The objective was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients undergoing this type of surgery in Spain. METHODS: A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study with ninety participants was carried out. Data on age, sex, performance of work activity with overuse of upper limbs, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, diagnosis of diabetes, performance of physical-sports activity and history of pre-surgical treatments were collected. Finally, a descriptive analysis of the variables and an analysis of correlations were carried out, using the Pearson and Spearman statistical test according to the type of variable. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.21 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 8.5 (95% CI, 55.41-59.00). Regarding their BMI, the mean was 28.49 with a SD of 4.9 (95% CI, 27.49-29.53), with 35.6% being obese (BMI greater than 30). The medical diagnosis of the subjects was 51.1% total rotator cuff tear. On the other hand, the intensity of physical activity was one hour or less per week in 87.8% of the sample. Finally, in relation to the previous physiotherapy treatment, 69.7% of the subjects had received some type of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The demographic and clinical characteristics found are consistent with those of other previously studied populations, and the association factors between them endorse the previously mentioned risk factors, with advanced age gaining special importance.

OBJETIVO: La causa más común de dolor de hombro son los cuadros clínicos relacionados con problemas del manguito rotador. Uno de los tratamientos más habituales es la cirugía artroscópica. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes sometidos a este tipo de cirugías en España. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo, observacional y de corte transversal con noventa participantes. Se recogieron los datos de edad, sexo, realización de actividad laboral con sobreuso de miembros superiores (MMSS), índice de masa corporal (IMC), consumo de tabaco, diagnóstico de diabetes, realización de actividad física-deportiva y antecedentes de tratamientos prequirúrgicos. Finalmente, se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables y un análisis de correlaciones, mediante la prueba estadística de Pearson y Spearman según el tipo de variable. RESULTADOS: La media de edad fue de 57,21 años con una desviación estándar (DE) de 8,5 (Intervalo de Confianza [IC] del 95%, 55,41-59,00). En cuanto a su IMC, la media fue de 28,49 con una DE de 4,9 (IC del 95%, 27,49-29,53), siendo el 35,6% personas con obesidad (IMC mayor de 30). El diagnóstico médico de los sujetos fue en un 51,1% de rotura total del manguito rotador. Por otro lado, la intensidad de realización de actividad física fue de una hora o menos a la semana en el 87,8% de la muestra. Por último, en relación con el tratamiento previo de fisioterapia, el 69,7% de los sujetos habían recibido algún tipo de intervención. CONCLUSIONES: Las características demográficas y clínicas encontradas están en consonancia con las de otras poblaciones estudiadas previamente, y los factores de asociación entre ellas refrendan los factores de riesgo ya señalados previamente (edad, obesidad, sobreuso de MMSS), cobrando especial importancia la edad avanzada.

Public preferences in healthcare resource allocation: A discrete choice experiment in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the public view on priority-setting criteria for healthcare resource allocation. Specifically, it investigates how the value of a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) varies depending on patient characteristics. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted using an online sample of the general South Korean population. Respondents were presented with two competing treatment scenarios. The attributes of the scenarios were age at disease onset, life expectancy without treatment, life-years gain with treatment, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) without treatment, and HRQoL gains with treatment. Two hundred choice sets were generated and randomly allocated into 20 blocks. A conditional logit model was used to estimate the factors affecting the respondents' choices. RESULTS: A total of 3,482 respondents completed the survey. The larger the QALY gain, the more likely it was that the scenario would be chosen but with a diminishing marginal value. Respondents prioritized 40-year-old patients over 5-year-olds and 5-year-olds over 70-year-olds and prioritized baseline HRQoL of 40% and 60% over 20%. Patients at the end of life were not preferred to those with a longer life expectancy. CONCLUSION: Overall, respondents preferred health-maximizing options without explicit consideration for end-of-life patients or those with poor health. In addition, they revealed a kinked preference for patient age, prioritizing middle-aged patients over children and older people.

Age in addition to RETTS triage priority substantially improves 3-day mortality prediction in emergency department patients: a multi-center cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown varying results on the validity of the rapid emergency triage and treatment system (RETTS), but have concluded that patient age is not adequately considered as a risk factor for short term mortality. Little is known about the RETTS system's performance between different chief complaints and on short term mortality. We therefore aimed to evaluate how well a model including both RETTS triage priority and patient age (TP and age model) predicts 3-day mortality compared to a univariate RETTS triage priority model (TP model). Secondarily, we aimed to evaluate the TP model compared to a univariate age model (age model) and whether these three models' predictive performance regarding 3-day mortality varies between patients with different chief complaints in an unsorted emergency department patient population. METHODS: This study was a prospective historic observational cohort study, using logistic regression on a cohort of patients seeking emergency department care in Stockholm during 2012-2016. Patient visits were stratified into the 10 chief complaint categories (CCC) with the highest number of deceased patients within 3 days of arrival, and to "other chief complaints". Patients with priority 1 were excluded. RESULTS: The studied cohort contained 1,690,981 visits by 788,046 different individuals. The TP and age model predicted 3-day mortality significantly and substantially better than both univariate models in the total population and in each studied CCC. The age model predicted 3-day mortality significantly and substantially better than the TP model in the total population and for all but three CCCs and was not inferior in any CCC. There were substantial differences between the studied CCCs in the predictive ability of each of the three models. CONCLUSIONS: Adding patient age to the RETTS triage priority system significantly and substantially improves 3-day mortality prediction compared to RETTS priority alone. Age alone is a non-inferior predictor of 3-day mortality compared to RETTS priority. The impact on 3-day mortality prediction of adding patient age to RETTS priority varies between CCCs but is substantial for all CCCs and for the total population. Including age as a variable in future revisions of RETTS could substantially improve patient safety.

Erosive Tooth Wear in Subjects with Normal Occlusion: A Pioneering Longitudinal Study up to the Age of 60.

The aim of this study was to assess the erosive tooth wear (ETW) at early and mature adulthood in subjects with natural normal occlusion. The sample consisted of 23 untreated subjects with normal occlusion. Dental models were taken longitudinally from the same subjects at 13 (T0), 17 (T1) and 60.9 years of age (T2) at a university. Evaluation of ETW was performed using a modified Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. Interphase changes were evaluated using Friedman and Dunn's test. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the influence of sex, dental arch, tooth and dental surfaces on the erosive tooth wear. Linear regression was used to evaluate whether the ETW degree at T1 could discriminate the degree of ETW at T2. The significance level adopted was 5%. ETW showed a significant increase with aging. The median ETW index at T0, T1 and T2 was 2, 4 and 7, respectively. ETW was greater in males in the incisors and canines and on the incisal/occlusal and lingual tooth surfaces. No significant differences were found between the maxillary and mandibular arches. Subjects with severe ETW at mature adulthood had greater tooth wear at age 17. In conclusion, ETW significantly increased during aging in subjects with normal occlusion. The greater the degree of tooth wear at early adulthood, the greater the tooth wear at mature adulthood. Preventive care should be recommended during early adulthood in patients demonstrating erosive tooth wear in order to avoid worsening with aging.

Adolescent Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Interplay of Age, Gender, and Mental Health Outcomes in Two Consecutive Cross-Sectional Surveys in Northern Italy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the development of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health among adolescents in Northern Italy by comparing cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022, with a particular focus on the influence of age and gender. The sample included adolescents aged 11-19 years from public schools in South Tyrol. Validated psychometric instruments were used to assess HRQoL, anxiety and depression symptoms, and psychosomatic complaints. Sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 burden, and pandemic-related factors were measured. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, correlation coefficients, and logistic regression analyses. The results indicated that while the self-reported burden of adolescents decreased significantly in 2022 (n = 1885) compared to 2021 (n = 1760), there were no significant differences in symptoms of anxiety, depressive symptoms, low HRQoL, and increased psychosomatic complaints between the two surveys for both early and late adolescents. Females consistently had higher percentages for all outcome variables, and symptoms of anxiety increased with age in females, but not in males. Both genders experienced an increase in depressive symptoms and low HRQoL with age. The co-occurrence of mental health outcomes was observed, suggesting overlapping patterns among anxiety, depression, low HRQoL, and psychosomatic complaints. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between age, gender, and mental health outcomes among adolescents during the pandemic. It is important to recognize that late adolescents may exhibit distinct vulnerabilities and may require tailored support approaches to address their specific mental health challenges, differing from those needed for early adolescents.