The association between lower limb fractures and weight gain in adults: a prospective analysis of body mass index trends.

PURPOSE: Despite understanding the connection between obesity and fracture risk, there is limited research on the implications of lower limb fractures on subsequent changes in body mass index (BMI). Our study aimed to assess the impact of lower limb fractures on BMI alterations over an 18-month period. METHODS: A multi-center, prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2021 to June 2023, involving 494 adults with lower limb fractures. Participants were recruited within 2 weeks post-injury and were assessed for demographics, injury details, and weight at seven distinct time points. By 18 months, the primary outcome was the mean weight gain. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 39 (± 12.7) with a baseline weight and BMI of 80.4 kg and 27.6, respectively. At the 18-month follow-up, 75% of patients experienced an average weight increase in 4 kg (± 5.39 kg), equating to a BMI rise of 1.39 (± 1.88). Most patients attributed weight changes to their injury, with nearly half expressing distress from their weight change. Only 37% believed that they had resumed their previous activity levels by the final follow-up. Approximately 31% of the patients sought some form of external weight management care in the form of nutritionist advice, training programs, medication and weight management procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Lower limb fractures significantly affect weight gain over an 18-month period, with substantial psychological and physical consequences. Healthcare providers should anticipate potential weight gain post-fracture and incorporate strategies addressing both physical and mental aspects of rehabilitation to enhance recovery outcomes. Early and even immediate weight bearing may play a pivotal role in mitigating weight changes and returning the patient to their previous level of activity. Further detailed studies focusing on different fractures and postoperative interventions are recommended.

Bronchiolitis in Infants; Five Years' Experience of a Teaching Hospital.

Background: Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome affecting the lower respiratory tract of infants and toddlers <2 years old. Variability in clinical profile and response to therapy in children with Bronchiolitis calls for studying the different clinical aspects of local patient population. Aim: The goal of our study is to determine the clinical presentation, past medical history, hospitalization course and prognosis in children below two years of age who have been hospitalized in King Fahad University Hospital over the last five years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review based on electronic health records of all Bronchiolitis-related hospitalization of infants and toddlers below two years of age, covering the period between January 1, 2015, to April 26, 2020. Results: Out of a total of 446 children <2 years of age, 202 were female (45.4%), and 243 were male (54.6%). Although the length of hospital stay was almost equal between the sexes, there was a significant (p-value=0.01) increase in length of intensive care unit stay among females compared to males. Furthermore, there was a significant prolongation in the duration of ventilator usage among females (p value = 0.062). Out of fifty-five patients admitted to the ICU, 83.63% of them were 12 months of age and below. Conclusion: Our results show a significant increase in length of ICU and ventilator use among females compared to males. It also shows that infants younger than 12 months account for most ICU admissions. These findings, among many others, may help pediatricians formulate a better diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

A challenging high-risk surgery for necrotizing pneumonia in a right bilobed lung.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing pneumonia is rare in children and is one of the most serious complications of a lung infection caused by antibiotic failure. We present a 12-year-old leukopenic child with a long-lasting lung infection, presenting as having a lung hydatid cyst, but diagnosing with necrotizing pneumonia in the right bilobed lung. Failure to medical treatment and ongoing leukopenia justified surgical intervention with positive results. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was referred to our teaching hospital's pediatric surgery department. He had previously been diagnosed with intestinal tuberculosis (TB) and received anti-TB treatment. On referral to our hospital, the patient was suffering from restlessness, frequent coughing, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Following the completion of the clinical work-up, a blood test revealed leukopenia (white blood cell count of 2100/microliter), a normal platelet count, and a lesion in the right lung. Computerized tomography scanning (CT-Scan) image reported a lung hydatid cyst. In the pediatrics ward, a broad-spectrum antibiotics regimen with triple-antibiotic therapy (linezolid, vancomycin, and metronidazole) was instituted and continued for a week with no response, but worsening of the condition. In the pediatric surgery ward, our decision for surgical intervention was due to the failure of medical treatment because of a pulmonary lesion. Our team performed right lung upper lobe anterior segment wedge resection due to necrotizing pneumonia and followed the patient 45 days post-operation with a reasonable result. CONCLUSION: Living in remote rural areas with low resources and inaccessibility to proper and specialized diagnostic and treatment centers will all contribute to an improper diagnosis and treatment of lung infection. In total, all of these will increase the morbidity and mortality due to lung necrosis in the pediatric population, regardless of their age. In low-resource facilities, high-risk patients can benefit from surgical intervention to control the ongoing infection process.

Peculiar clinical and diagnostic features of infective endocarditis in Yemen: Comparative analysis with a Western University Hospital.

The aim of this study was to describe the pattern, characteristics, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) in Yemen and compare the results with the findings of a Western university hospital. Patients (pts) with a final diagnosis of IE observed in Al-Thawra Sanaa Cardiac Center were prospectively enrolled in 1-year time period. Clinical and diagnostic findings were compared to clinical and diagnostic data of 50 pts with IE observed at Sapienza University Hospital in Rome, Italy. The mean age was 38 ± 6. Predisposing factors for IE were rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in 34 pts (68%), congenital heart disease in 9 pts (18%), prosthetic valve IE in 4 pts (8%), and previous IE in 3 pts (6%). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was done in 50 pts and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 25. Blood cultures were taken in all pts and were positive in 3 pts (6%) and negative in 47 (94%). TTE was positive in 34/50 pts (68%) and TEE in 20/25 (80%). Compared to Sapienza University pts, Al-Thawra Cardiac Center pts had a younger age (p = 0.003), more predisposing RHD (p = 0.0004), less prosthetic heart valves IE (p = 0.002), and more negative blood cultures (p = 0.0001). IE is still a common disease in Yemen among RHD pts and affects the younger age group. It has severe complications which need early diagnosis and proper management. Echocardiography is of prime diagnostic value in the absence of positive blood cultures. An effort should be made to prevent rheumatic fever and RHD.

Curcumin carbon dots inhibit biofilm formation and expression of esp and gelE genes of Enterococcusfaecium.

The increasing prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, along with the ability of this bacterium to form biofilm on biotic surfaces and medical devices, has created a serious challenge. Therefore, the development of new antibacterial agents is an urgent need. In this study, curcumin carbon dots (Cur-CDs) were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method, and its antibacterial and antibiofilm effects were investigated. By broth microdilution method, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against vancomycin-resistant and sensitive clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium (two clinical isolates in total) and standard strain of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was determined, which were 1000, 1000, and 125 µg/ml, respectively. The inhibitory effect of Cur-CDs on biofilm formation of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium clinical isolates were evaluated by microtiter plate assay. Cur-CDs (1000 µg/ml) significantly prevented (p = 0.009) the biofilm formation of E. faecium isolates. Real-time PCR results showed that Cur-CDs (1000 µg/ml) significantly downregulated the expression of esp and gelE genes (p = 0.001 and p = 000000002, respectively) in clinical isolates of E. faecium, while Cur-CDs did not affect acm gene expression (p = 0.086). This study revealed that Cur-CDs can be effective antibacterial and antibiofilm agents against vancomycin-resistant and biofilm producer E. faecium, which makes them interesting candidates for treating or preventing bacterial infections.

Medicaid's Moment for Protecting and Promoting Women's Health.

This Viewpoint examines pathways that advocates, policy makers, states, and Medicaid agencies can take to identify opportunities for state Medicaid agencies to protect and promote perinatal health.

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Incidence of Type 1 DM and the Glycemic Control of Diabetic Children: Findings from a Teaching Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated glycemic control among T1DM pediatric patients attending the endocrinology pediatrics clinics at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU) prior to and during COVID-19 restraining regulations. In addition, we assessed the trends and variations in the incidence of T1DM during 2017-2021, including the COVID-19 years by identifying newly diagnosed patients presenting to pediatrics emergency department (ED) in KFHU. METHODS: To estimate the effect of COVID-19 on the incidence of T1DM, we identified newly diagnosed cases of T1DM among pediatric patients attending the ED during the years 2017- 2021. The participants' data were collected through electronic medical records. Information collected included patient age, sex, and HbA1c readings. Three HbA1c readings of interest that were defined and collected are pre-COVID reading, in-COVID reading, and post-COVID reading. RESULTS: The difference of female participants' readings was statistically non-significant (Z= -0.416, p = 0.678), with a pre- and post-COVID median of 10.70 (Q1= 9.00, Q3= 12.15), and 10.50 (Q1= 8.80, Q3= 12.35), respectively. In contrast, the difference was statistically significant among male participants (Z= -2.334, p = 0.02), with a pre- and post-COVID median of 10.20 (Q1= 8.70, Q3= 11.80), and 10.65 (Q1= 9.00, Q3= 12.70), respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in HbA1c of persons > 11 years old (Z= -2.471, p= 0.013), with a pre- and post-COVID median of 10.40 (Q1= 9.00, Q3= 12.10), and 10.90 (Q1= 9.00, Q3= 12.60), respectively. Conversely, persons ≤ 11 years old showed no statistically significant change in HbA1c (Z= -.457, p= 0.648), with a pre- and post-COVID median of 10.45 (Q1= 8.70, Q3= 11.85), and 10.20 (Q1= 8.40, Q3= 12.075), respectively. Disregarding any influence of time, the effect of sex showed no statistically significant difference in HbA1c between males and females [F (1,125) = 0.008, p = 0.930]. Meanwhile, the age effect on HbA1c, regardless of time influence, was statistically significant [F (1,125) = 4.993, p = 0.027]. There was no statistically significant interaction between time and sex on HbA1c levels [F (1.74, 217) = 0.096, p = 0.883] and between age and time [F (3.92,289.57) = 1.693, p = 0.190]. CONCLUSIONS: The number of visits to healthcare facilities dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rate of newly diagnosed T1DM increased. There was a variable effect on HbA1c levels of those patients, which suggests that each demographic group in the population might have been affected differently by the pandemic. Future research should determine factors associated with better glycemic control and measures to sustain these changes the pandemic might have created.

Prediction of drug-drug interaction events using graph neural networks based feature extraction.

The prevalence of multi_drug therapies has been increasing in recent years, particularly among the elderly who are suffering from several diseases. However, unexpected Drug_Drug interaction (DDI) can cause adverse reactions or critical toxicity, which puts patients in danger. As the need for multi_drug treatment increases, it's becoming increasingly necessary to discover DDIs. Nevertheless, DDIs detection in an extensive number of drug pairs, both in-vitro and in-vivo, is costly and laborious. Therefore, DDI identification is one of the most concerns in drug-related researches. In this paper, we propose GNN-DDI, a deep learning-based method for predicting DDI-associated events in two stages. In the first stage, we collect the drugs information from different sources and then integrate them through the formation of an attributed heterogeneous network and generate a drug embedding vector based on different drug interaction types and drug attributes. In the second stage, we aggregate the representation vectors then predictions of the DDIs and their events are performed through a deep multi-model framework. Various evaluation results show that the proposed method can outperform state-of-the methods in the prediction of drug-drug interaction-associated events. The experimental results indicate that producing the drug's representations based on different drug interaction types and attributes is efficient and effective and can better show the intrinsic characteristics of a drug.

Isolated Renal and Ureter Metastasis as the First Manifestation of Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) rarely metastasizes to the urinary system in isolated form. It usually spreads through direct invasion with intra-ureteric growth or local ureter mucosal metastasis without involving the muscular layer. We present a case of a 63-year-old man who came with uraemic symptoms and a ballotable right kidney. Laboratory and imaging showed acute renal failure with right renal mass suspicious of malignancy and left ureteric stricture causing hydronephrosis. He underwent right radical nephrectomy and left open ureteric stenting plus biopsy sampling. Adenocarcinoma was detected through the evaluation of the specimen. In view that adenocarcinoma rarely occurs in the urinary system, an investigation was carried out to search for the primary source. Colonoscopy was performed, which later showed adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Adenocarcinoma in the renal system should always raise the suspicion of another primary source of malignancy, especially colorectal origin. The advanced stage of this cancer should be managed with the best palliative treatment rather than aggressive surgical intervention.

Serological Response to BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccines in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Biologic Therapies.

Introduction: The immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on biologic therapies is not well studied. The goal of this study was to measure the serological response to BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines in patients with IBD receiving different biologic therapies. Methods: We performed a multi-center prospective study between 1 August 2021 and 15 September 2021. We measured the seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (SARS-CoV-2 IgG) and neutralizing antibody concentrations in patients with IBD receiving biologic therapies 4-10 weeks after their second dose or 3-6 weeks after their first dose of BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines. Results: A total of 126 patients were enrolled (mean age, 31 years; 60% male; 71% Crohn's disease, 29% ulcerative colitis). Of these, 92 patients were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 vaccine (73%) and 34 patients with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (27%). In patients being treated with infliximab and adalimumab, the proportion of patients who achieved positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels after receiving two doses of the vaccine were 44 out of 59 patients (74.5%) and 13 out of 16 patients (81.2%), respectively. In contrast, of those receiving ustekinumab and vedolizumab, the proportion of patients who achieved positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels after receiving two doses of the vaccine were 100% and 92.8%, respectively. In patients receiving infliximab and adalimumab, the proportion of patients who had positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels after two-dose vaccination was 40 out of 59 patients (67.7%) and 14 out 16 patients (87.5%), respectively. On the other hand, the proportion of patients who had positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels were 12 out of 13 patients (92.3%) and 13 out of 14 patients (92.8%) in patients receiving ustekinumab and vedolizumab, respectively. Conclusions: The majority of patients with IBD who were on infliximab, adalimumab, and vedolizumab seroconverted after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. All patients on ustekinumab seroconverted after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are both likely to be effective after two doses in patients with IBD on biologics. Larger follow-up studies are needed to evaluate if decay of antibodies occurs over time.

The Prevalence and Correlates of Fissured Tongue Among Outpatients in Andkhoy City, Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Fissured tongue is a common manifestation of the tongue, marked by the presence of multiple prominent grooves or fissures on the dorsal surface of the tongue. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on the prevalence and factors associated with fissured tongue among patients attending an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan. AIM: The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with fissured tongue and its effects on the general health of adult outpatients in Afghanistan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among outpatient populations in Andkhoy City, Afghanistan, between September 2019 and December 2019. A convenience technique was applied by including 1182 patient aged 18-80 years. Socio-economic status, smoking, nass use (smokeless tobacco use) and medical data were collected using face-to-face interviews. We used logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with fissured tongue. A convenience technique was applied by including patient aged 18-80 years. RESULTS: The studied population consisted of 1182 participants, of whom 573 (48.5%) were males and 609 (51.5%) females. The prevalence of fissured tongue was 27.2% (95% CI: 24.7-29.9%) with males having significantly higher prevalence than females (47.5%, 95% CI: 43.3-51.6% versus 8.2%, 95% CI: 6.2-10.7%, p<0.001). Male participants (OR=7.1, 95% CI: 4.8-10.3), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3) and smokeless tobacco use (OR=12.0, 95% CI: 8.1-17.6) were the only variables independently associated with fissured tongue. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that there was a high rate of fissured tongue among an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan. Male gender, diabetes mellitus, and nass consumption were associated with fissured tongue. Therefore, these factors might usefully be targeted in local health promotion, prevention and early intervention programs.

Surgical Versus Medical Management of Necrotizing Enterocolitis With and Without Intestinal Perforation: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts premature neonates, although it can also affect term neonates. The clinical features of the ailment vary widely and range from transient feed intolerance to life-threatening complications such as septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. While surgery is usually only reserved for severe cases, such as those presenting with intestinal perforation, the role of surgical management in cases of NEC without perforation remains elusive. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients, three years in duration, was conducted and studied confirmed cases of NEC. The clinical presentations studied included cases of NEC with pneumatosis intestinalis, fixed bowel loop, pneumoperitoneum, and abdominal wall erythema. The patients were divided with regards to their intestinal perforation status and with pertinence to the treatment modality employed (medical or surgical). The results in either group were eventually analyzed in terms of the overall survival rate. Results A total of 48 patients were included in the study, of which 79.16% presented without perforation and 20.83% with perforation. Of the study participants included, 26 were females and 22 were males. Pertinently, no gender predominance was appreciated. In patients without perforation, medical management was noted to boast a lower mortality rate when compared with surgical intervention (15.6% vs 50.0%, respectively). In patients with perforation, the overall mortality was noted to hover at 50.0%, which was higher than that encountered in the non-perforation group. Conclusion In patients with NEC without perforation, surgical treatment confers no comparative therapeutic advantage when compared with medical management alone. Conservative management with broad-spectrum antibiotics including metronidazole yields equally favorable outcomes in such cases.

Evaluation of the Clinical, Child, and Parental Satisfaction with Zirconia Crowns in Maxillary Primary Incisors: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing demand for aesthetics in children and their parents, the treatment of decayed primary anterior teeth is one of the biggest challenges in pediatric dentistry. Zirconia crowns have provided a treatment alternative to address the aesthetic concerns and ease of placement of extracoronal restorations on primary anterior teeth. METHODS: The electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Embase were searched on articles published between January 2010 and January 2021. Studies relating to evaluating the clinical success and satisfaction of both parents and children about zirconia crowns in maxillary primary incisors were reviewed. RESULTS: Nine studies met the criteria for final inclusion. Findings from these studies showed that parental and child satisfaction with zirconia crowns is high with clinically acceptable restorations in the maxillary primary incisors. CONCLUSION: Parental and child satisfaction with zirconia crowns is high with clinically acceptable restorations in the maxillary primary incisors. In addition, larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are required in future studies.

Effects of 12 weeks of recreational football (soccer) with caloric control on glycemia and cardiovascular health of adolescent boys with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of recreational football combined with caloric control on glycemia and cardiovascular health of adolescent boys with type 1 diabetes. BACKGROUND: Though 12 weeks of physical activity alone improves the health of people with type 1 diabetes, there is little evidence that physical activity alone can improve glycemia in 12 weeks. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The participants were divided into four groups as follows: football with diet, football-only, diet-only, and the control groups. Each group consisted of 10 participants. The football with diet and the football-only groups had 1.5 h of football twice a week for 12 weeks. The following outcomes were measured before and after 12 weeks: Glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and resting blood pressures. Changes were considered significant when p ≤ 0.050 and common language effect size ≤42% or common language effect size ≥58%. RESULTS: Glycated hemoglobin decreased in the football with diet group (mean change (standard deviation) = -0.9 (1.0) %, p = 0.019, and common language effect size = 31.5%) and was different from the control group (p = 2.4 × 10-4 and common language effect size = 95.5%.). However, none of the intervention groups showed a clear change in blood lipids nor blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: 12 weeks of combined football with diet intervention provides the greatest improvement in glycemia in adolescent boys with type 1 diabetes.

Entomophilic nematodes, Diploscapter coronatus and Oscheius tipulae from Afghanistan.

Several soil samples from different habitats in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan were collected to isolate and characterize bacteria feeding nematodes. The Galleria mellonella-baiting method was used for the isolation of the Afghan insect-associated nematodes. The nematodes were studied using morphological and morphometric data. The Oscheius specimen was characterized by a longer body (630-820 µm) and shorter pharynx (125-145 µm), whereas other morphological characters were not unusual. The Diploscapter specimen had an annulated cuticle, with lip region width 1.5 times shorter than the stoma, and had separated pharyngeal corpus from the isthmus and vulva located in the middle of the body. The molecular data were derived using three loci; 18S, 28S (D2/D3 segment), and ITS rRNA region, which were utilized to measure the genetic distance. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted to reconstruct the relationship tree. Both morphological and molecular approaches confirmed the identity of nematode isolates as Oscheius tipulae and Diploscapter coronatus. This is the first report of insect-associated nematodes from the soil of Afghanistan. Both species were capable of infecting and killing G. mellonella larvae in less than 96 h.

Effect of Letrozole on sperm parameters, chromatin status and ROS level in idiopathic Oligo/Astheno/Teratozoospermia.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the effect of letrozole on hormone profiles, semen parameters, body mass index (BMI), degree of oxidative stress and sperm chromatin integrity in men with idiopathic oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia (iOAT) and T:E2 ratio ≤ 10. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional and open-labelled clinical trial. Semen samples were collected from 20 iOAT men with low serum testosterone (T) to estradiol (E2) ratio (T:E2 ratio ≤ 10). The participants were treated with 2.5 mg letrozole orally per day for 3 months. Then, sperm parameters, hormone profiles, BMI, chromatin integrity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were assessed pre- and post- treatment. The chromatin integrity was evaluated by assessment of DNA fragmentation (with TUNEL assay) and protamine deficiency (with Chromomycin A3, CMA3). Also, the intracellular ROS levels were investigated by 2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. Finally, the differences between the parameters evaluated before and after letrozole treatment were analyzed with the t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Sperm concentration, percentage of sperm motility and its normal morphology increased significantly after letrozole treatment. Moreover, serum testosterone level increased but estradiol level decreased significantly following treatment. The mean of T:E2 ratio improved 1600%. Also, letrozole treatment significantly reduced the percentage of sperm TUNEL positivity and sperm CMA3 positivity. While no significant difference was observed between intracellular ROS levels and BMI before and after treatment. Finally, as a notable result, four spontaneous pregnancies (20%) were achieved after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Letrozole treatment can effectively increase spontaneous pregnancies by improving sperm parameters and sperm chromatin integrity in men with iOAT and T:E2 ratio ≤ 10. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT20191030045283N1. Registered 16 November 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://fa.irct.ir/user/trial/43484/view.

The prevalence and associated factors of cigarette smoking and its association with opium use among outpatients in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study in Andkhoy city.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of cigarette smoking and the association between cigarette smoking and opium use among patients visiting an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on consecutive patients aged 18 years and older from January 2018 to April 2018. Data on patients' sociodemographic characteristics and clinical variables were collected using an interview-based survey. RESULTS: Six hundred and twenty-two patients (391males vs. 231 females) were interviewed for this study. The overall prevalence of current smoking was 50.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 46.2-54.2). Males were (odds ratio [OR] = 9.5; 95% CI: 5.3-17.1) more likely to smoke cigarettes than females. The odds of current cigarette smoking increased with having a family member smoker or a friend smoker (OR =3.3; 95% CI: 2.0-5.3). Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with the level of education (illiterate OR = 8.9; 95% CI: 4.0-19.8), primary/private education (OR = 7.8; 95% CI: 3.9-15.6), and secondary education (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 2.3-8.4), with high school or higher education as the reference group. Rural residents were 3.7 times (95% CI: 2.3-6.2) more likely to smoke cigarette than urban residents. Opium users were 23.0 times (95% CI: 12.5-42.3) more likely to smoke cigarettes than non-opium users. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among patients visiting an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan was high, and there was an association between cigarette smoking and male gender, a family history of smoking or a friend history of smoking, level of education, rural residency, and opium consumption.

Anxiety and Depression among Hypertensive Outpatients in Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study in Andkhoy City.

There is a relationship between mental and physical health. Depression and anxiety are linked with the development of several chronic diseases. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among adult hypertensive outpatients in Afghanistan. Methods. Two hundred thirty-four consecutive hypertensive patients from December 2015 to August 2016 were recruited to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, which has scores for classifying the participants having anxiety and depression symptoms. Results. Of the total 234 patients, 81 (34.6%) were males and 153 (65.4%) were females. The mean age was 54.6 ± 12.7 for the hypertensive patients with anxiety and 63.8 ± 15.0 for the hypertensive patients with depression while this figure was 49.5 ± 10.2 for the adult participants in general population in Kabul city (Saeed, 2013). The prevalence of anxiety and depression (42.3% vs. 58.1%) among hypertensive persons is compared with the same mental disorders among Afghan refugees (39.3% vs. 22.1%) in Dalakee Refugee Camp (in Iran) (Hosseini Divkolaye and Burkle, 2017). Of the total participants, 99 had anxiety (42.3%), 136 had depression (58.1%), and 66 had (28.2%) comorbid anxiety-depression. Multivariate analysis was used. For anxiety age, female gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and 2 or more chronic diseases had a significant association. For depression, age and diabetes mellitus had a significant association, and for comorbid anxiety, depression, age, diabetes mellitus, and 2 or more chronic diseases had a significant association. Conclusion. This study shows that anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among hypertensive patients in an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan. There was an association between some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and anxiety and depression. More studies are needed on a national level to inform the development of strategies for the prevention and control of psychological distress among patients with chronic diseases in Afghanistan.

Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Patients in the Northern Part of Afghanistan: a Cross-Sectional Study in Andkhoy City

Background: The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and cardiovascular risk factors remains controversial. The high prevalence of H. pylori infection among Afghan patients warranted the investigation of this association. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between H. pylori infection and cardiovascular risk factors among patients visiting an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 271 consecutive patients in an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan from April 2017 to June 2017. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was achieved using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. The patients were divided into H. pylori positive (n=189) and H. pylori negative (n=82) groups. The association between H. pylori infection and cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed. Results: Of the total 271 study participants, 102 (37.6%) were male and 169 (62.4%) female. The mean age ± standard deviation of the patients who were H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative was 51.0 ± 17.6 years and 51.6 ± 17.6 years, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) (odds ratio [OR] 3.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-7.62, P = 0.011), and body mass index (BMI) levels (OR 1.17, 95% CI 108-1.26, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study indicated that H. pylori infection was significantly associated with DM and elevated BMI levels in patients from an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan. More aggressive measures, including DM, obesity control, and H. pylori eradication are needed.

Nass use and associated factors among outpatients in northern Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study in Andkhoy City.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Nass is a form of smokeless tobacco. It is used most commonly in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, and is significantly associated with oral and oesophageal cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of nass use and its associated factors among patients attending an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan, from April to July 2017. The study included 387 consecutive patients. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, which includes three main items: demographic, physical, and biomedical measurements. We performed binary logistic regression to identify independent risk factors of nass use. RESULTS: The study included 387 participants, of whom 225 were males (58.1%) and 162 were females (41.9%). The overall prevalence of nass use was 48.8% (95% CI: 43.8-53.9%), with the Turkmen ethnic group having significantly higher prevalence than other ethnic groups (58.2%, 95% CI: 50.8-65.3% vs 41.8%, 95% CI: 34.7-49.2%). The mean and standard deviation of the age was 63.9 (17.2) years for nass users and 42.3 (17.4) years for non-users.Based on a multivariate analysis, family history of nass use (OR=31.4, 95% CI: 12.5-78.5), illiteracy (OR=8.9, 95% CI: 2.5-31.2), rural residence (OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.9), and unemployment (OR=5.4, 95% CI: 1.4-21.4) were associated with nass use. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that about half of the participants were nass users, and nass use associated factors were family history of nass use, illiteracy, unemployment, and rural residency in outpatient clinics in Afghanistan. More surveillance data are needed on a national level to inform the development of strategies for the prevention and control of nass consumption in Afghanistan.