Validation and Repeatability of Inferior minus Superior Value and its Cut-off Value in Anterior Sagittal Curvature Map Using Pentacam in Early Keratoconus

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed El Sharkawy Mohammed Yousef ◽  
Rania Serag Elkitkat ◽  
Maged Maher Salib Roshdy ◽  
Khaled Abdel Wahab Eltagoury

Abstract Background : Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral asymmetric localised inferior and central corneal thinning and ectasia. Usually, it causes high myopia and irregular astigmatism resulting in a poor quality of vision. One of the most important ways of avoiding iatrogenic ectasia in cornea during refractive surgery is to detect KC in its earliest stage using the Pentacam. An important asymmetry decentration index is the inferior minus superior (IS) value. Purpose : Detection of Inferior minus Superior (IS) value and its Cut-off Value Methods : This is a cross-sectional, case control study that included 92 right eyes of 92 subjects, who presented to the outpatient clinic of “Al Watany Eye Hospitals” seeking refractive surgery or routine medical consultations. Our study focused on the measurement of the IS-value in early KC (TKC grade 1 and FFKC) and normal eyes. The right eye of each candidate was scanned 5 times in the same setting using the Pentacam. The study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki, and an approval was obtained from the ethical committee of Ain Shams University Hospitals. Results : We detected remarkably high statistically significant difference between patients and controls regarding the IS-value (p < 0.001). The mean (±SD) of control and cases group was 0.3 ± 0.2 and 1.4 ± 0.6, respectively. The cut-off point of 0.69 with high area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC). Coefficient of variation median (95% CI) for cases and controls were 1.4% (0.9 to 3.1%) and 6.2% (3 to 9.4%), respectively. Conclusion : The IS-value has a high repeatability and AUROC for differentiating early KC from normal corneas. It can be regarded as an accurate parameter for early KC detection.

2020 ◽  
pp. 247553032096478
Author(s):  
Pavane L. Gorrepati ◽  
Gideon P. Smith

Background: YouTube is currently the second most popular website in the world, with over 1 billion hours watched each day. Unlike peer-reviewed journals, there is no process to ensure the quality of YouTube videos that cover medical and treatment information, which could lead to patient misinformation. Objective: We set out to use the DISCERN instrument, which has previously been used in studies to assess the quality of consumer health information regarding treatment choices, to systematically evaluate the quality of the information. Methods: A YouTube search was performed on April 12, 2020, using the keyword “psoriasis treatments.” Since 90% of YouTube users do not view past the first 30 videos, only the first 30 results were selected. Non-English videos, advertisements, and videos that were too specific for the search criteria entered were excluded. Results: The average total DISCERN score was 38.3, which categorizes the videos overall as “poor” quality of content. There was a statistically significant difference in total DISCERN scores between the videos created by patients and those created by hospital/physician sources ( P < .015), with hospital-/physician-made videos scoring higher. However, regardless of the source of the video, there were still significant shortcomings in all the videos assessed. Conclusion: We feel we have a responsibility and an opportunity as a specialty to provide high-quality information, with a specific focus on the areas identified by the DISCERN tool as lacking, to help guide patients on evidence-based therapeutic options.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judicaël Todedji ◽  
Ghislain Sopoh ◽  
Cyriaque Degbey ◽  
Arouna Yessoufou ◽  
Fidèle Suanon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Liquid discharges from hospitals (effluents) threaten the environment and are now a central concern of all stakeholders in the health system and those in the protection of the environment. The management of effluents is a major problem in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of effluent management at the level of university hospital centers (CHU) in the Littoral region in Benin. Methods It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, evaluative study that took place in 2020 to assess the “structure”, “process” and “results” components according to standard thresholds (Bad: < 60%; Acceptable: [60–80% [and Good: ≥ 80%). Results In all the CHUs, all the components, as well as the overall quality of the management of hospital effluents, had a score between 0 and 60%, with an assessment deemed bad. The poor quality of the process highlighted the non-compliance with standards relating to the management of hospital liquid discharges. Several factors linked to the “structure”, “process” and “results” components at the same time explain this poor management of university hospitals effluents. Conclusion These effluents discharged without prior treatment into wastewater could constitute a source of dissemination of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. It is therefore important to develop methods for treating these effluents before they are released into the natural environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625
Author(s):  
Bina Pandit ◽  
Jitendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Ananda Kumar Karn ◽  
Rina Pandit

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life and factors associated with quality of life among primary caregivers of children with Cerebral palsy.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried between primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in rehabilitation group and non-rehabilitation group. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect dataResults: Median age of caregivers was 34 years (age 20-70 years), and there was significant difference between age in two groups (p=0.028). 83 (86.5%) caregivers were female with significant difference between gender in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group (p=0.03). Majority of primary caregivers were mother 71 (74%) in both groups. Among all 96 caregivers, 78.1% of caregivers had poor quality of life (Score in questionnaire below 75% taken as poor quality of life).There was no significant difference between quality of life in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group (p=0.42). Factors associated with quality of life in rehabilitation groups was illiteracy (p=0.005), aggressive nature of child (p=0.050), uncooperative nature of child (p=0.025), poor knowledge about child condition (p<0.001), and low financial support (p=0.051). Similarly, factor associated with quality of life in non-rehabilitation group was gross motor function classification system level of child (p< 0.001) and more perceived stress (p=0.048). Conclusions: Majority of primary caregivers was mother and had poor quality of life and there was no significant difference between overall quality of life of caregivers in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group.Keywords: Cerebral palsy; quality of life; primary caregivers


Obesities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-199
Author(s):  
Thomas Perkins ◽  
Samantha Hayes ◽  
Daniel Talbot

Height dissatisfaction has recently been found to be an important contributor to body dissatisfaction in males, however, there is currently limited research examining this relationship in women. The present cross-sectional study aimed to examine the link between height and height dissatisfaction in Australian women, and the extent to which height and height dissatisfaction relate to body dissatisfaction and quality of life. Additionally, it explored the height preferences of oneself and romantic partners in Australian women. A final sample of 172 Australian women was recruited to complete an online survey relating to height preference, height dissatisfaction, muscularity, drive for thinness, and quality of life. Results showed that there was a significant difference between the reported actual height of participants and their ideal height. We also found that shorter women tended to be more dissatisfied with their height and were more likely to believe that they were treated poorly due to their height. Our study also identified that the vast majority (84%) preferred a romantic partner taller than them. Results were comparable to men aspiring to be taller than they were. Future studies should consider height dissatisfaction as a potential contributing factor to poor quality of life and negative affect.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 76-81
Author(s):  
Chu Cao Minh ◽  
Thang Vo Van ◽  
Dat Nguyen Tan ◽  
Hung Vo Thanh

Background: The criteria set of assessing hospital quality in Vietnam in 2016 was revied from the criteria set in 2013 by the Ministry of Health in order to help hospitals to self-assess towards improvinge quality of hospitals in the international integration context. The study aimed to assess the quality of public hospitals in Can Tho City according to the revised criteria set of the Ministry of Health in 2016 and compare the quality among three hospital ranks (including grade I, grade II, and grade III) via to 5 groups of quality criteria. Methods: A cross-sectional study, using secondary data analysis was applied to assess the service quality of 7 general public hospitals in Can Tho City. Results: The average total score of 7 hospitals is 245 and the average for the criteria of 7 hospitals is 2.99, which is just satisfactory. In the criterion of quality, criterion D and E had the lowest scores compared to the other three groups. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.076) among the mean scores for the three hospital categories. Conclusion: The quality of public hospitals in Can Tho city in 2016 only reached moderately good level (2.99). Interventions should be developed to improve the quality of hospitals, with particular emphasis on improving the quality of criteria groups D and E. Key words: Quality, hospital, medicine, health, public, Can Tho


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001268
Author(s):  
Angela Koipuram ◽  
Sandra Carroll ◽  
Zubin Punthakee ◽  
Diana Sherifali

IntroductionPersons of South Asian descent have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The management of T2DM in the South Asian community has required the support of adult children, potentially impacting the quality of life, diabetes-related knowledge, and risk perception among these caregivers.Research design and methodsTo investigate diabetes-related knowledge, quality of life, risk perception, and actual risk of developing diabetes among South Asian young adults whose parents are living with T2DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted (n=150). An online survey was administered. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in diabetes-related knowledge between males and females (p<0.001). Males (in comparison to females) had a lower risk perception of developing diabetes (p=0.06). Further, risk perception and diabetes-related knowledge were positively associated with caregiver’s physical health (p=0.002).ConclusionFindings highlight the importance of providing gender-specific and culturally tailored diabetes educational interventions.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Vikas Kumar

The quality of metadata is a crucial determinant of usability/interpretability of data. This paper draws attention to the poor quality of India’s government statistics and the paucity of metadata necessary to understand the problems. The paper suggests that there has been a decline in India both in terms of the availability and quality of metadata for key government sources of information including maps, decennial population censuses and National Sample Surveys amidst growing sophistication in the understanding of metadata. The poor quality of metadata impairs cross-sectional as well as inter-temporal comparisons and policymaking apart from concealing biases and lapses of government statisticians. The paper draws on the experience of three states – erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland – where government statistics have been affected by serious errors that are not well-understood due to the lack of adequate metadata.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Hori ◽  
Masatoshi Hoshino ◽  
Kazuhide Inage ◽  
Masayuki Miyagi ◽  
Shinji Takahashi ◽  
...  

AbstractWe investigated the relationship between trunk muscle mass and spinal pathologies by gender. This multicenter cross-sectional study included patients aged ≥ 30 years who visited a spinal outpatient clinic. Trunk and appendicular muscle mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS) score for low back pain, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ5D) score were investigated to evaluate spinal pathology. The association between trunk muscle mass and these parameters was analyzed by gender using a non-linear regression model adjusted for patients’ demographics. We investigated the association between age and trunk muscle mass. We included 781 men and 957 women. Trunk muscle mass differed significantly between men and women, although it decreased with age after age 70 in both genders. Lower trunk muscle mass was significantly associated with ODI, SVA, and EQ5D score deterioration in both genders; its association with VAS was significant only in men. Most parameters deteriorated when trunk muscle mass was < 26 kg in men and < 19 kg in women. Lower trunk muscle mass was associated with lumbar disability, spinal imbalance, and poor quality of life in both genders, with significant difference in muscle mass.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Jian-He Xiao ◽  
◽  
Shi-Yang Li ◽  
Xing Xing ◽  
Ai-Hong Zhao ◽  
...  

AIM: To evaluate the quality of life of recruits after refractive surgery. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional study. Using the Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) questionnaire, the quality of life in 615 recruits underwent refractive surgery was evaluated. The overall score and each question score of QIRC were compared between subgroups of different strength of preoperative refractive error, postoperative interval, type of surgical procedure and postoperative recovery. RESULTS: The mean overall QIRC score of recruits underwent refractive surgery was 49.15±7.89. Significant difference was found for strength of preoperative refractive error (F=4.16, P<0.05), with the low myopia group (50.67±7.59) had significantly better scores than those with high myopia (47.57±7.52, F=4.16, P<0.05). Recruits after a postoperative interval no more than 6mo (49.18±7.86) scored equally to those of more than 6mo (49.18±8.03). Recruits underwent surface ablation surgery scored lowest (46.68±6.09), but showed no significant difference when compared with all underwent refractive surgery (t=1.99, P>0.05). Scores of recruits underwent mechanical microkeratome laser in situ keratomileusis (MK-LASIK), Sub-Bowman’s keratomileusis (SBK), femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), femtosecond lenticule extraction (ReLEx flex) or small-incision lenticule extraction (ReLEx SMILE) procedure showed no significant difference too. Recruits had adverse complaints postoperatively (45.85±6.66) scored lower when compared with all underwent refractive surgery (t=5.28, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The quality of life of recruits after refractive surgery was good except those with postoperative complications. Preoperative low myopia recruits had better quality of life than medium and high myopia ones.


Hypertension ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian S Costa ◽  
Marina C Marins ◽  
Jocasta C Ansel ◽  
Carolina P Tavares ◽  
Fernanda T Queiroz ◽  
...  

Introduction: Medical students, susceptible to sleep disorders, have irregular sleep-awake cycle, with repercussions on the quality of life and reduced academic performance, often with greater incidence of psychiatric disorders, estimated at 15% to 25% during your academic training. Objective: To evaluate the sleep habits in students of medical school in a private college of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Method: This subset study is a part of an observational study with cross-sectional delineation, with data collected through the application of an anonymous questionnaire, where they were asked about the number (and modification) of hours they sleep daily, in addition to reports of “stress and anxiety”. These data collected formed the basis of an instrument for assessing the quality of life on the medical students of this College. Results: We analyzed data from 481 students: 82 (17%) at the first year, 118 (24.5%) at the second year, 99 (20.6%) at the third, 64 (13.3%) and 118 (24.5%) within the fifth and sixth years. The average age was 21.7 years (16-42) and 306 (63.6%) of female gender. As for the hours of sleep, 445 students (92.5%) report 5 to 8 hours of sleep, and 216 (44.9%) a minimum of 6 hours. In the sleep of the weekends, 394 (81.9%) reported change in the number of hours and, 313 (65.1%) referred to a reduction after the entrance into college. It was reported "some level of stress and anxiety,“ not related to the least number of hours sleepping (0.07). Comparing the data obtained among the 199 students of the first and second years (62.8% female-group A) to 117 at fifth and sixth years (70.9% female-group B), we observed similarity in relation to (1) number of 5 to 8 hours sleepping (A 92.9% x 90.5% B), (2) change the hours of sleepping on the weekends (A 81.9% x 79.5% B), and (3) reduction of sleepping hours after the entrance into College (A 81.9% x 78.6% B). With regard to the report of "stress and anxiety”, we observed statistically significant difference between the groups (A 100% x 88% B, p < 0.03). Conclusion: The change in lifestyle imposed on joining a new school learning model, generates anxiety and loss of sleep hours among students. The development of resilience and adaptation to change, both individual and institutional, may have been responsible to varying degrees of stress.


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