Evaluation of facial soft-tissue values and craniofacial morphology in obese adolescent patients with different skeletal classes

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the facial soft tissue and craniofacial morphological structures in adolescent obese individuals with different skeletal patterns. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 292 adolescents examined under three groups based on their body mass indexes (BMIs) as obese, healthy, and overweight. The subjects were also categorized based on skeletal classes as Class I, Class II, and Class III. Results: The glabella, nasion, labiale inferius, labiomentale, and pogonion values of the female patients were significantly higher in obese group. In the obese and overweight groups, effective midfacial and mandibular length, anterior and posterior facial heights, and SN values of the females were higher than males. In the obese group, the mean effective midfacial and mandibular length (Co-A and Co-Gn), anterior and posterior facial heights (S-Go and N-Me), and anterior cranial base (SN) values were significantly higher than other groups. Conclusion: Soft-tissue thicknesses increase as BMI value increases. Craniofacial morphology reveals significant differences between BMI groups.

A Multicentre Study Comparing Cerebrovascular Disease Profiles in Pacific Islander and Caucasian Populations Presenting with Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In a multicentre study, we contrasted cerebrovascular disease profiles in Pacific Island (PI)-born patients (Indigenous Polynesian [IP] or Indo-Fijian [IF]) presenting with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), ischaemic stroke (IS) or intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) with those of Caucasians (CSs). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Using a retrospective case-control design, we compared PI-born patients with age- and gender-matched CS controls. Consecutive patients were admitted to 3 centres in South Western Sydney (July 2013–June 2020). Demographic and clinical data studied included vascular risk factors, stroke subtypes, and imaging characteristics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 340 CS, 183 (27%) IP, and 157 (23%) IF patients; mean age 65 years; and 302 (44.4%) female. Of these, 587 and patients presented with TIA/IS and 93 (13.6%) had ICH. Both IP and IF patients were significantly more likely to present &#x3e;24 h from symptom onset (odds ratios [ORs] vs. CS 1.87 and 2.23). IP patients more commonly had body mass indexes &#x3e;30 (OR 1.94). Current smoking and excess alcohol intake were higher in CS. Hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease were significantly higher in both IP and IF groups in comparison to CS. IP patients had higher rates of AF and those with known AF were more commonly undertreated than both IF and CS patients (OR 2.24, <i>p</i> = 0.007). ICH was more common in IP patients (OR 2.32, <i>p</i> = 0.005), while more IF patients had intracranial arterial disease (OR 5.10, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Distinct cerebrovascular disease profiles are identifiable in PI-born patients who present with TIA or stroke symptoms in Australia. These may be used in the future to direct targeted approaches to stroke prevention and care in culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Anti-diuretic and anti-glycemic properties of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. leave extract on wistar rats

Background Jatropha gossypiifolia L. is a widespread plant in tropical and sub-tropical countries used in traditional medicine. This study investigated the anti-diuretic and anti-hyperglycemia activities of J. gossypiifolia leave extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods The leaves was shade dried, pulverized and prepared into extract. 30, 50 and 100 mg/kg of the leaves extracts of J. gossypiifolia was subject to diuretics and hyperglycemic properties using established protocol of diuretic and diabetes test on the rat bladders emptied via mild compression in the pelvic region and gently pulling of their tails. 0.5 ml/kg normal saline, reference drug and the tested were administered with a single dose of the various drugs, and Streptozotocin (STZ) was freshly prepared in 0.1 M citrate buffer with pH 4.5 prior to induction, animals were fasted 24 h and single dose of 45 mg STZ per kg body weight was administered intraperitoneally. Urine and blood samples were isolated from rats and centrifuged for the determination of renal function test. Diuretic and antidiabetic indexes where evaluated using adopted method. Results This study showed that, graded doses of the extract significantly increased diuretic effect, specifically at 100 mg/kg increased diuretic index at 4.29 and urine volume 5.06 and 10 mg/kg Hydrochlorothiazide with 6.23 ml when compared untreated group (1.18 ml) (p < 0.0001). Also, it regulated renal function in homeostatic state. Graded doses at (30, 50 and 100 mg/kg) of the extract significantly reduced streptozotocine induced increased blood glucose level at day 14 (84.00, 60.67 and 42.00 IU/mL) when compared with 20 mg/kg glibenclamide and diabetics control (81.67 and 463.00 IU/mL) (p > 0.05). Also, the extract maintained a normal body mass indexes, biochemical and anatomical structure. Conclusion The effect associated with J. gossypiifolia potentiated its anti-diuretic and anti-hyperglycemic properties as early stated in the ethnomedicinal reports.

Quantifying the Onset of Unintended Weight Loss in Huntington’s Disease: A Retrospective Analysis of Enroll-HD

Background: Unintended weight loss and decreased body mass indexes (BMIs) are common symptoms of individuals with manifest HD. It is unknown at what point during disease progression weight loss starts to accelerate relative to a healthy individual’s weight and when recommended interventions should be initiated to have the strongest impact on patient care. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify a point in time relative to age at motor onset when the decline in weight in HD starts to accelerate relative to a non-HD population. The relationship between initiation of weight loss interventions and changes in weight loss was also explored. Methods: Participants from the fifth version of the Enroll-HD study were identified for this research. Linear mixed-effects piecewise regression models were used to estimate the point in time relative to the reported age of motor onset in which BMI started to decline in participants with HD compared to healthy non-HD controls. A post-hoc descriptive analysis was performed to look at when nutritional supplements and swallow therapy were initiated in participants with HD relative to motor onset. Results: BMI decline in the HD group began to accelerate compared to controls approximately 5.7 years after the reported age of motor onset (95% CI: 4.7–6.9). The average initiation times of swallow therapy and nutritional supplements were 7.7 years (SD = 5.5 years) and 6.7 years (SD = 6.5 years) after motor onset, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a potential point for intervention of nutrition programs or therapies used to prevent future weight loss.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTOR SKILLS AND SOCIAL SKILLS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

<p>This study aimed to examine the relationship between motor skills and social skills of preschool children regarding to age, gender, and body mass indexes. A total of 160 typically developing preschool children from the 5 – 6 age groups participated in the study. The families of the children gave consent forms to participate in the study. The Test of Gross Motor Development, 3rd Edition tool (TGMD-III), and Preschool Social Skills Assessment Tool (PSSAT) were used in the study. We performed frequency and percentage analysis for descriptive statistics on the demographic characteristics of the participants. The researchers estimated the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation values of the scales used in the study and the sub-dimensions of these scales. Skewness and kurtosis values for normality and applied Shapiro-Wilk (Normal Fit Test) were examined. We also calculated Cronbach's alpha values for the validity-reliability analysis of the Preschool Social Skills Assessment Tool. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests for gender and age comparisons, and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were employed to examine body mass indexes. We performed Pearson Correlation analysis to determine the relationship between motor skills and social skills. The result of the research showed that the motor skills of preschool children showed a significant difference according to the gender of the children (p&lt;0.05). Preschool children were exposed to a significant difference according to children's ages in terms of locomotor skills and total motor skills (p&lt;0.01). The social skills of these children revealed a statistically significant difference in line with their gender (p&lt;0.01). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference according to the age of the children (p&gt;0.05). The body mass index of preschool children's ground motor and social skills did not show a statistically significant difference according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) levels (p&gt;0.05). Our study could not identify a meaningful relationship between motor skills and the children's social skills (p&gt;0.05).</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0862/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Reference data among general population and known-groups validity among hypertensive population of the EQ-5D-5L in Vietnam

Purpose This study aims to provide EQ-5D-5L population norms among the general population in Vietnam and to test EQ-5D-5L’ construction validity among people living with hypertension there. Methods Descriptive statistics of the five dimensions and five levels, EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L indexes were categorised into gender and age groups for the EQ-5D-5L population norms. Known-groups testing was set for lower EQ-5D-5L outcomes among people who were aware of their hypertensive status, females, people with more comorbidities, less education, older ages, and higher body mass indexes. Level of confident interval was 95%. Results The mean EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L indexes were 81.10 (SD: 13.35) and 0.94 (SD: 0.09) among the general population. The EQ-5D-5L outcomes were better among younger people, males, people with more education, employees, and single people. Respondents reported fewer problems with self-care and usual activities and tend to have problems at higher levels across older ages. The known-group testing showed statistically significant results. The mean EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L indexes of people in the diagnosed hypertensive group (71.48 and 0.94, respectively) were statistically significantly smaller than they were in the non-hypertensive and undiagnosed hypertensive group (76.65 and 0.97; 76.95 and 0.96 accordingly). Statistically significant associations of lower EQ-5D-5L indexes and EQ-VAS were found among people diagnosed for hypertension, people suffering from an incremental comorbidity, and obese people. Conclusion This study has provided EQ-5D-5L population norms for the general population and evidence for known-groups validity of the EQ-5D-5L instrument among hypertensive people in Vietnam.

Five-year longitudinal study of frailty prevalence and course assessed using the Kihon Checklist among community-dwelling older adults in Japan

The aim of this study was to analyze the 5-year natural course of frailty status assessed with the Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the risk factors of transition towards frailty in community-dwelling older adults. We used the data from the postal KCL survey conducted by the municipal government between 2011 and 2016. The sample of the current study consisted of 551 older adults (265 men and 286 women) aged 65–70 years in 2011. The median KCL score increased from 2 (interquartile range 1–3) in 2011 to 3 (1–5) in 2016 (p < 0.001). Hence, the prevalence of frailty increased from 8.0 to 12.3% (p < 0.001). Regarding the 5-year transitions in frailty status, 68.3% of participants remained unchanged, while 21.4% transitioned towards a worse frailty status, and 10.3% towards an improved status. Of the 507 respondents who were robust or prefrail at the baseline, 44 experienced a transition towards frailty, indicating that the 5-year incidence of frailty was 8.7%. These 44 individuals had higher body mass indexes (BMI) and lower physical activity scores on the KCL than others (p < 0.05), the latter of which was an independent predictor of transition toward frailty in the multivariate analysis. This study was the first to evaluate the 5-year natural course of frailty status assessed using the KCL in community-dwelling elderly adults, in which the prevalence of frailty increased by 4.3%. To prevent transition towards frailty, maintaining optimal physical activity is recommended.

A comparison of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) versus influenza during the pandemic: Can we distinguish COVID-19 from flu?

We conducted a retrospective chart review examining the demographics, clinical history, physical findings, and comorbidities of patients with influenza and patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Older patients, male patients, patients reporting fever, and patients with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) were more likely to have COVID-19 than influenza.

Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Exhibit Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Serological Responses

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a global health care emergency. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological profiling of critically ill COVID-19 patients was performed to determine their humoral response. Blood was collected from critically ill ICU patients, either COVID-19 positive (+) or COVID-19 negative (−), to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins: IgM; IgA; IgG; and Total Ig (combined IgM/IgA/IgG). Cohorts were similar, with the exception that COVID-19+ patients had a greater body mass indexes, developed bilateral pneumonias more frequently and suffered increased hypoxia when compared to COVID-19- patients (p < 0.05). The mortality rate for COVID-19+ patients was 50%. COVID-19 status could be determined by anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological responses with excellent classification accuracies on ICU day 1 (89%); ICU day 3 (96%); and ICU days 7 and 10 (100%). The importance of each Ig isotype for determining COVID-19 status on combined ICU days 1 and 3 was: Total Ig, 43%; IgM, 27%; IgA, 24% and IgG, 6%. Peak serological responses for each Ig isotype occurred on different ICU days (IgM day 13 > IgA day 17 > IgG persistently increased), with the Total Ig peaking at approximately ICU day 18. Those COVID-19+ patients who died had earlier or similar peaks in IgA and Total Ig in their ICU stay when compared to patients who survived (p < 0.005). Critically ill COVID-19 patients exhibit anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological responses, including those COVID-19 patients who ultimately died, suggesting that blunted serological responses did not contribute to mortality. Serological profiling of critically ill COVID-19 patients may aid disease surveillance, patient cohorting and help guide antibody therapies such as convalescent plasma.