Validation of Spanish Erasmus-Modified Nottingham Sensory Assessment Stereognosis Scale in Acquired Brain Damage

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the third leading cause of death in Spain. The disability derived from ABI can include considerable difficulties in upper-limb use due to somatosensory deficits. One of the assessments most commonly used to evaluate ABI is the Nottingham Sensory Assessment (NSA); however, there is no complete psychometric analysis or standardized version in Spanish. We aimed to develop and validate a Spanish version of the stereognosis component of the NSA for evaluating Spanish adults with ABI via a single-center, observational, cross-sectional study. The Spanish version of the NSA was developed in two steps. The first was based on the standardization and collection of normative data in 120 asymptomatic participants. For the second, we recruited 25 participants with ABI to establish concurrent criterion-related validity, internal consistency, and floor/ceiling effects. Criterion validity was assessed against two-point discrimination and tactile-localization tests. Our normative data showed significant differences among the various age groups (p < 0.05), supporting the validity of the Spanish-version assessment. For the ABI sample, we also found further evidence of validity with Spearman’s rho coefficient between the total scores and the two-point discrimination and tactile-localization tests, which showed low and moderate correlations (rho = 0.50–0.75, p < 0.05). Internal consistency was excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91. No ceiling or floor effects were found. We conclude that the stereognosis component of the NSA in its Spanish version is a valid scale that can be used to comprehensively and accurately assess stereognosis capacity in adults with ABI. As a low-cost evaluation, this assessment has great potential to be widely used in clinical practice and research settings.

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CONCENTRATION OF THE SERUM TGF-BETA1 IN HEALTHY ADULT PEOPLE

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2014.4_5.12 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 90-93

Author(s):

Van Tuan Nguyen ◽

Tam Vo ◽

Bui Bao Hoang

Keyword(s):

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Age Groups ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy People ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

And Gender

Elevated serum Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) levels have been linked to tissue fibrosis including chronic kidney disease. Objectives: (1) Investigate serum TGF-beta1 levels in healthy adult people and (2) Examined the relation between serum TGF-beta1 level and gender, age, body mass index (BMI). Method: A cross-sectional study. TGF-beta1 were quantified by ELISA. Results: Levels of serum TGF-beta1 in healthy people were 13,45 ± 7,17 ng/mL mL (0,59 - 33,10 ng/mL). There are no difference of serum TGF-beta1 levels between men and women, between the age groups (<40 years, 40 to < 60 years and ≥ 60 years), between BMI groups < 23 and BMI group ≥ 23. Key words: TGF-beta1, healthy people

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The Prevalence of Insecticide Treated Net/malaria :cross section study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16825 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Chanda Chalela

Keyword(s):

Study Design ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malaria Prevalence ◽

Malaria Patient ◽

P Value ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Itn Use ◽

Structured Questionnaire

BACKGROUND ABSTRACT Introduction a study on prevalence of ITN use was carried out in Buchi community Kitwe Zambia from August to October 2019 OBJECTIVE Prevalence of ITN in BUchi METHODS Methodology: This was a cross sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to ascertain ownership and utilization and oral interviews, 200 households were targeted 844 individual covered across the 200 households. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23. RESULTS ABSTRACT Introduction a study on prevalence of ITN use was carried out in Buchi community Kitwe Zambia from August to October 2019 Methodology: This was a cross sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to ascertain ownership and utilization and oral interviews, 200 households were targeted 844 individual covered across the 200 households. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23. Findings: household ownership of at least an ITN was 52% and individual utilization at 37.6%, with 0.825 ITN/households and 0.195ITN /individual. Malaria prevalence of 52.4% /household and a 12.4% of the population. With 47.6% malaria patient coming from households with ITN and 60% of households with ITN have insufficient coverage.61% of malaria patient were female and 31 % male. however there was no significant relation between Gender and malaria prevalence in study area (p value was >0.05). Malaria cases distribution with age groups, 0-15yrs old represented 49.5%, 16-30 yrs., was at 27.6% and the over 30 yrs. case were at 22.9% .use of other preventive measures 23% used mosquito repellent ,others methods 1% with those not using any other methods 76%. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion The study showed clearly that malaria still poses a problem .the prevalence rate of malaria was still high 12.4% of the population and 52.4% of households. With high prevalence of malaria of 49.5% for 0-15yrs.the difference between ownership 52% and Utilization 37.6% showed that even household with ITN, the ITN were not sufficient.60% of households with ITN, the ITN were not sufficient for all occupants

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Socioeconomic determinants of unmet need for outpatient healthcare services in Iran: a national cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10477-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sajad Vahedi ◽

Amin Torabipour ◽

Amirhossein Takian ◽

Saeed Mohammadpur ◽

Alireza Olyaeemanesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health System ◽

Age Groups ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Outpatient Services ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Organizational Policies ◽

Utilization Of Healthcare

Abstract Background Unmet need is a critical indicator of access to healthcare services. Despite concrete evidence about unmet need in Iran’s health system, no recent evidence of this negative outcome is available. This study aimed to measure the subjective unmet need (SUN), the factors associated with it and various reasons behind it in Iran. Methods We used the data of 13,005 respondents over the age of 15 from the Iranian Utilization of Healthcare Services Survey in 2016. SUN was defined as citizens whose needs were not sought through formal healthcare services, while they did not show a history of self-medication. The reasons for SUN were categorized into availability, accessibility, responsibility and acceptability of the health system. The multivariable logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of SUN and associated major reasons. Results About 17% of the respondents (N = 2217) had unmet need for outpatient services. Nearly 40% of the respondents chose only accessibility, 4% selected only availability, 78% chose only responsibility, and 13% selected only acceptability as the main reasons for their unmet need. Higher outpatient needs was the only factor that significantly increased SUN, responsibility-related SUN and acceptability-related SUN. Low education was associated with higher SUN and responsibility-related SUN, while it could also reduce acceptability-related SUN. While SUN and responsibility-related SUN were prevalent among lower economic quintiles, having a complementary insurance was associated with decreased SUN and responsibility-related SUN. The people with basic insurance had lower chances to face with responsibility-related SUN, while employed individuals were at risk to experience SUN. Although the middle-aged group had higher odds to experience SUN, the responsibility-related SUN were prevalent among elderly, while higher age groups had significant chance to be exposed to acceptability-related SUN. Conclusion It seems that Iran is still suffering from unmet need for outpatient services, most of which emerges from its health system performance. The majority of the unmet health needs could be addressed through improving financial as well as organizational policies. Special attention is needed to address the unmet need among individuals with poor health status.

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Religion: Interrelationships and Opinions in Children and Adolescents. Interaction between Age and Beliefs

Religions ◽

10.3390/rel12050357 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 357

Author(s):

Rafael López Cordero ◽

Francisca Ruiz Garzón ◽

Lourdes Medina Martínez ◽

María del Carmen Olmos-Gómez

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Current Trend ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Experimental Methodology ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Younger Age ◽

Religious Issue ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Quantitative Descriptive

The current trend of secularization seems to be leading to a gradual withdrawal of religion from public spaces. However, in an increasingly internationalized world, it is becoming more and more important to study the roles of religion and religiosity and their potential in relation to dialogue and social conflicts and tensions. Education is a vital field within which to address this religious issue and create an educational dialogue in order to promote coexistence. By following a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, based on a quasi-experimental methodology with a social–analytical character, our aim is to assess the existing connections between religion, interrelation and opinion in Spanish children and adolescents. Special attention is paid to the interaction between age and beliefs. We carried out our study with the use of a questionnaire distributed to eleven secondary schools, with students aged between 11 and 16 years old, in three regions of southern Spain (Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla) characterized by high religious diversity and multiculturalism. The multivariate analysis carried out in this study identifies the effects of variance on the influence of age and religion, highlighting the interaction between the two. It is observed that the youngest students are those who express their opinions about religion the least, while those belonging to younger age groups and majority religions are those who express a greater religious coexistence, with Muslims externalizing their religious condition the most.

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Determinants of alcohol consumption and marijuana use among young adults in the Republic of Palau

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12199-020-00928-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mizuki Sata ◽

Renzhe Cui ◽

Chifa Chiang ◽

Singeru Travis Singeo ◽

Berry Moon Watson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Age Groups ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Education Levels ◽

The Status ◽

The Republic ◽

Republic Of Palau

Abstract Background This study aimed to describe the status of alcohol consumption and drug use among young adults as well as their determinants. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 356 young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) living in Palau in 2013. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol and marijuana usage were compared within and between sexes, age groups, ethnicities, and education levels. Results The proportion of current drinking was higher in people aged 21–24 than in those aged 18–20 (73.2% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.09 in men and 48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02 in women), while that of marijuana use did not differ between the age groups. The proportions of current drinking and marijuana use were higher in Palauan than in other ethnicities (current drinking: 70.6% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.005 in men and 38.8% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.04 in women; lifetime marijuana use: 80.0% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.02 in men and 56.1% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.09 in women). The proportion of frequent (3 times or more) marijuana users was higher for the lower educated than for the higher educated (62.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001 in men and 33.9% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.12 in women). Conclusions Sex, age, ethnicity, and education were significant determinants of alcohol and marijuana use.

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Reference values and factors associated with hand grip strength among older adults living in southeastern Poland

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89408-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej ◽

Agnieszka Ćwirlej-Sozańska ◽

Justyna Kilian ◽

Natalia Wołoszyn ◽

Bernard Sozański ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older People ◽

Reference Values ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Normative Values ◽

Dominant Hand ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated

AbstractHandgrip strength (HGS) is used as a biomarker for the state of health of older people, but the number of research publications containing the normative values of HGS in older adult populations is limited. The aim of the study was to define reference values and factors associated with HGS in older adults living in southeastern Poland. A cross-sectional study including 405 participants aged 65 and older was conducted. Handgrip strength for the dominant hand was assessed by the average of three trials using a JAMAR dynamometer. The sample was categorized into the following age groups: 65–69 years, 70–74 years, 75–79 years, 80–84 years, 85 and over. The average HGS was 19.98 kg (16.91 kg for women and 26.19 kg for men). There was a decrease in handgrip strength across the age range in both sexes. The average handgrip strength of the older people was 17.97 kg (14.47 kg for women and 25.66 kg for men) for those aged 80–85 and 16.68 kg (13.51 kg for women and 21.77 kg for men) in the group over 85 years old. In both sexes, marital status was an independent factor associated with reduced handgrip strength. In conclusion, this study described, for the first time, handgrip strength values for the southeastern Polish population aged ≥ 65 years according to age and gender.

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Comparison of Prevalence of Periodontitis with Different Indices in Population of District Ghaziabad

Dental Journal of Advance Studies ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1672041 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 04 (01) ◽

pp. 023-030

Author(s):

Vimal Kumar ◽

Pallak Arora ◽

Manish Khatri ◽

Shivani Sharma ◽

Sumit Malhotra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Periodontal Disease ◽

Total Population ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sample Population ◽

Age Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Younger Age ◽

Study Population

Abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence of periodontal disease with different indices. Methods & materials: The study population consisted of multistage stratified random sample of 1300 subjects from total population of district Ghaziabad. A cross-sectional study was conducted with multi stage stratified random sampling techniques to select the sample population. The subjects were divided into different age groups and the periodontal assessment was made on the basis of CPITN index and ESI Index. Results: The CPITN has shown to estimate incorrect periodontal disease prevalence because of its underestimation of the disease severity. A huge difference was noticed in the prevalence rate of periodontitis when subjects were examined with ESI index. Conclusion Periodontal disease was found to be highly prevalent in the study population and severity of disease increased with age. More number of subjects in younger age group were found to be healthy.

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Demographic and social correlates and indicators for behavioural compliance with personal protection among Chinese community-dwellers during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041453 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e041453

Author(s):

Xin Xu ◽

Kimberly Ann Chew ◽

Xiaolin Xu ◽

Zhihua Wu ◽

Xiaohua Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Age ◽

Social Indicators ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Personal Protection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Protective Measures ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Community Dwellers

ObjectivesExamine compliance with personal protective measures in communities for the prevention and control of local transmission of the COVID-19, and explore indicators for such behavioural compliance.DesignCross-sectional design with a self-selecting sample. Data collected in February 2020.SettingCommunity dwellers in China.Participants2956 participants aged 16 and above completed the study and were included in the analysis.Outcome measuresNationwide COVID-19 survey. Demographics and self-reported compliance with four personal protective measures—home quarantine, mask-wearing, temperature-taking and hand-sanitising were collected. Outbreak severity and timeliness of personal protection order were obtained from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between demographic and social indicators and behavioural compliance.ResultsCompliance with home quarantine was only associated with gender (men, OR=0.61 (0.51–0.73), inverse association) but no other indicators. In contrast, men had higher compliance with mask-wearing (OR=1.79 (1.49–2.16)) and temperature-taking (OR=1.27 (1.05–1.53)). Compared with younger adults (≤20 years), the middle-age groups (31–40 and 41–50 years of age) were more compliant with all protective behaviours, except for home quarantine (OR=0.71 (0.54–0.93) and 0.67 (0.46–0.97), respectively).ConclusionMale gender was associated with lower compliance with home quarantine yet higher compliance with mask-wearing and temperature-taking. The middle-age participants (31–50 years) had lower compliance with home quarantine but higher with other measures. These findings may be supported by the economic considerations and the long-inherited Confucian values among Chinese. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, public health authorities should tailor policy implementation to disparities in psychosocial indicators.

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Age and Spinal Disease Correlate to Albumin and Vitamin D Status

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/2192568220982561 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822098256

Author(s):

Anderson Gomes Marin ◽

Raphael de Rezende Pratali ◽

Samuel Machado Marin ◽

Carlos Fernando Pereira da Silva Herrero

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Age Groups ◽

Hypovitaminosis D ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Surgical Approaches ◽

Albumin Concentration ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Epidemiological Profile

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Objectives: Thus, this study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile of a patient sample that underwent spinal surgery regarding their nutritional and vitamin D status. Methods: Serum albumin and vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels were measured in patients with different spinal surgical approaches and various pathologies at a single institution. 112 patients were retrospectively identified for inclusion and stratified by age into 4 age groups and by pathology. The nutritional status of the patients was classified in vitamin D inadequacy (< 30ng/mL), vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL), and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5g/dL). Data was analyzed comparing vitamin D, and albumin means considering gender, age group, and pathologies. Results: Twenty-eight (25.2%) patients had hypoalbuminemia. There was no difference between gender (p = 0.988); there was a significant decrease in albumin concentration increasing the age (p < 0.001). The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia was significantly higher in patients with trauma, tumor and infection than in those patients with degenerative and deformity diseases (p = 0.003). The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy was 33.7%, and that of deficiency was 62.2%, while severe deficiency (< 10 ng/mL) in 16.3%. The vitamin D concentration was significantly different among the pathologies (P = 0.047), the lower concentration occurring in patients with tumor. Conclusion: Older patients, as well as patients with tumor and infectious pathologies, seem to have a higher prevalence of hypoalbuminemia, inferring malnutrition. There was a low epidemic level of vitamin D concentration, almost all patients presenting some degree of hypovitaminosis D, independent of age, gender and nutritional status.

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A cross-sectional study measuring contact patterns using diaries in an urban and a rural community in South Africa, 2018

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11136-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jackie Kleynhans ◽

Stefano Tempia ◽

Meredith L. McMorrow ◽

Anne von Gottberg ◽

Neil A. Martinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Rural Site ◽

Urban Site ◽

Contact Rate ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Contact Rates ◽

Contact Patterns

Abstract Background Describing contact patterns is crucial to understanding infectious disease transmission dynamics and guiding targeted transmission mitigation interventions. Data on contact patterns in Africa, especially South Africa, are limited. We measured and compared contact patterns in a rural and urban community, South Africa. We assessed participant and contact characteristics associated with differences in contact rates. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study nested in a prospective household cohort study. We interviewed participants to collect information on persons in contact with for one day. We described self-reported contact rates as median number people contacted per day, assessed differences in contact rates based on participant characteristics using quantile regression, and used a Poisson model to assess differences in contact rates based on contact characteristics within age groups. We also calculated cumulative person hours in contact within age groups at different locations. Results We conducted 535 interviews (269 rural, 266 urban), with 17,252 contacts reported. The overall contact rate was 14 (interquartile range (IQR) 9–33) contacts per day. Those ≤18 years had higher contact rates at the rural site (coefficient 17, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 10–23) compared to the urban site, for those aged 14–18 years (13, 95%CI 3–23) compared to < 7 years. No differences were observed for adults. There was a strong age-based mixing, with age groups interacting more with similar age groups, but also interaction of participants of all ages with adults. Children aged 14–18 years had the highest cumulative person hours in contact (116.3 rural and 76.4 urban). Conclusions Age played an important role in the number and duration of contact events, with children at the rural site having almost double the contact rate compared to the urban site. These contact rates can be utilized in mathematical models to assess transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in similar communities.

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