Identification of Risk Factors for Diabetes Disability among Bangladeshi Adults

The paper was to throw some light on the risk factors for diabetes disability among Bangladeshi adults of 18 years and above residing in both urban and rural areas. In investigating the adults, it was decided to cover 50.1% males and 49.9% females to maintain the national level of sex ratio in the sample. The respondents were interviewed when they were visiting some diagnostic centres in urban and semi-urban areas. The percentage of diabetic respondents included in the sample was 67% and 25.5% of them were suffering for 10 years and above, 6.4% were disable against 4.8% total disable respondents in the sample, and obese adults were 30.2%. Diabetic disable adults in the sample were 4.3%. The most responsible variable for diabetes disability was obesity followed by longer duration of diabetes, sedentary activity, smoking habit, being housewife, being married, etc. These variables were identified on the basis of risk ratio and correlation coefficients of variables and discriminant function scores. Beside these variables, rural people, Muslims, adults of ages 40 – 50 years, illiterate people had more risk of facing the problem of diabetes disability.

Coronary Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Genetic Factors and Their Mechanisms, Gene-Gene, and Gene-Environment Interactions in the Asian Populations

Asians are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and its coronary heart disease (CHD) complications than the Western populations, possibly due to genetic factors, higher degrees of obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction that could occur even in healthy individuals. The genetic factors and their mechanisms, along with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions associated with CHD in T2D Asians, are yet to be explored. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to review the current evidence of genetic factors for CHD, summarize the proposed mechanisms of these genes and how they may associate with CHD risk, and review the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in T2D Asians with CHD. The genetic factors can be grouped according to their involvement in the energy and lipoprotein metabolism, vascular and endothelial pathology, antioxidation, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism, as well as cytoskeletal function and intracellular transport. Meanwhile, interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from different genes, SNPs within a single gene, and genetic interaction with environmental factors including obesity, smoking habit, and hyperlipidemia could modify the gene’s effect on the disease risk. Collectively, these factors illustrate the complexities of CHD in T2D, specifically among Asians.

Lower Rate of Daily Smokers With Symptomatic COVID-19: A Monocentric Self-Report of Smoking Habit Study

Background: Identification of prognostic factors in COVID-19 remains a global challenge. The role of smoking is still controversial.Methods: PCR-positive in- and outpatients with symptomatic COVID-19 from a large French University hospital were systematically interviewed for their smoking status, use of e-cigarette, and nicotinic substitutes. The rates of daily smokers in in- and outpatients were compared using the same smoking habit questionnaire to those in the 2019 French general population, after standardisation for sex and age.Results: The inpatient group was composed of 340 patients, median age of 66 years: 203 men (59.7%) and 137 women (40.3%), median age of both 66 years, with a rate of 4.1% daily smokers (CI 95% [2.3–6.9]) (5.4% of men and 2.2% of women). The outpatient group was composed of 139 patients, median age of 44 years: 62 men (44.6%, median age of 43 years) and 77 women (55.4%, median age of 44 years). The daily smoker rate was 6.1% (CI 95% [2.7–11.6], 5.1% of men and 6.8% of women). Amongst inpatients, daily smokers represented 2.2 and 3.4% of the 45 dead patients and of the 29 patients transferred to ICU, respectively. The rate of daily smokers was significantly lower in patients with symptomatic COVID-19, as compared to that in the French general population after standardisation by age and sex, with standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of 0.24 [0.12–0.48] for outpatients and 0.24 [0.14–0.40] for inpatients.Conclusions: Daily smoker rate in patients with symptomatic COVID-19 is lower as compared to the French general population

Determinants of wasting among South Sudanese 6- to 59-month-old children in Okugo refugee camp, Gambella Region, South-Western Ethiopia: Unmatched case–control study

Introduction: Wasting among refugee children continues to be a serious public health problem particularly in conflict and in situations when people are displaced. Evidence of risk factors in the refugee context is crucial to successfully prevent malnutrition and its consequences. However, little information is known about the determinants of wasting in a refugee setting. Hence, this study was aimed to identify determinants of wasting among South Sudanese 6- to 59-month-old children in Okugo refugee camp, South-Western Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based unmatched case–control study was conducted on 99 acute malnutrition children (cases) and 297 children who are not malnourished (control) from 6 April to 2 May 2019. The study participant was selected by systematic random sampling and data on exposure variables were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and was exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable analyses were done to compute summary statistics and to identify determinants of wasting. Result: The mean age of the cases and controls with standard deviation (SD) was 13.8 (±6.9) and 19.2 (±8.7) months, respectively. Multi-variable analysis revealed that mothers who were unable to read and write (adjusted odds ratio = 3.26, 95% confidence interval (1.07–7.93)), fathers only decision-maker to use donations items in the household (adjusted odds ratio = 3.75, 95% confidence interval (1.28–10.85)), not used all donated refugee food and non-food items (adjusted odds ratio = 2.57; 95% confidence interval (1.17–5.66)), the incidence of diarrhea 2 weeks preceding the survey (adjusted odds ratio = 5.28, 95% confidence interval (2.31–12.04)), and mother’s smoking habit (adjusted odds ratio = 2.98, 95% confidence interval (1.19–7.44)) were significant determinants of wasting. Conclusion: The finding shows that mothers who are unable to read and write, father only decision-maker, parents’ smoking habit, not using all donated refugee food items, and diarrheal disease were found to be independent determinants of wasting. Hence, interventions on acute malnutrition which are focused on empowering women through training and strengthening their control over the household assets, proper utilization of donated food, and non-food items will play a paramount role.

Fractals disruption as the footprint of subthreshold depressive symptoms on the heart rate

Psychopathology, and in particular depression, is a cardiovascular risk factor independent from co-occurring pathology. This link is traced back to the mind-heart-body connection, whose underlying mechanisms are, to date, not completely known. It is clear, however, that the autonomic nervous system plays a leading role in the mediation between the parts of that connection. Therefore, to study psychopathology in relation to the heart, it is necessary to observe the autonomic nervous system, whose gold standard of evaluation is the study of heart rate variability (HRV). Two short-term HRV recordings (5 min - supine and sitting) were analysed in 77 healthy subjects. Here we adopted a three-fold approach to evaluate HRV: a set of scores belonging to the time domain (SDNN, pNN50, RMSSD); the frequency analyses that gauges three main components (high, low, and very low frequencies) and a new set of complexity nonlinear parameters. The PHQ-9 scale was used to detect depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were associated only with a parameter from the non-linear approach and specifically the long-term fluctuations of fractal dimensions (DFA-α2). This association remained significant even after controlling for age, gender, BMI, arterial hypertension, anti-hypertensive drugs, dyslipidaemia, and smoking habit. Moreover, the DFA-α2 was not affected by the baroreflex (postural change), unlike other autonomic markers. In conclusion, fractal analysis of HRV (DFA-α2) allows to predict depressive symptoms below diagnostic threshold in healthy subjects regardless of their health status. DFA-α2 may be then considered as an imprint of subclinical depression on the heart rhythm.

Smoking as an environmental hazard to the periodontal and peri-implant tissues: A brief review

While dental plaque is considered the etiological factor for the development of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, many studies from recent years point to smoking as the most significant environmental factor contributing to disease severity. This effect is evident at the epidemiological level as well as on our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved. The present review presents abundant scientific evidence showing that smoking negatively affects the local blood supply, interferes with the reaction of the immune system to bacterial insult, is toxic to gingival and periodontal ligament cells, impedes the response of the periodontal attachment apparatus to treatment, and is linked to dental implant failure. Over the past 30 years, more than 200 million people have died as a result of smoking tobacco use. There are more than 1 billion current smokers worldwide and these numbers are likely to increase over the coming years. And yet, the effect of smoking on periodontal and peri-implant health has been a controversial issue. It was argued, that it is difficult to prove such an effect due to poor adherence of smokers to oral hygiene, which creates a confounding factor inseparable from the effect of the smoking itself. Unfortunately, even some of the more recent publications cast doubt as for the importance of smoking cessation on peri-implant health, as a prerequisite for a successful treatment. The aim of the present review was to question the validity of these reports by presenting multiple evidence to support the quiet widely accepted common knowledge that is the numerous hazards to the oral biology which are the result of a heavy and prolonged smoking habit.

The Wellness Program for Physical Fitness and Decreasing Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

Indonesia is currently facing a double burden of disease. The high rate of communicable diseases has been followed by high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes mellitus. This study aims to produce a holistic approach model in the form of a Wellness Program in an effort to improve physical fitness and decrease of metabolic syndrome for civil servants. This study was designed with an experimental design. Subjects were members of civil servants in Klungkung Regency, Indonesia who have one or more of syndrome metabolic risk. Subjects were divided into two groups, namely the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group is a group that is given a wellness program model in the form of physical exercise according to the rules of frequency, intensity and duration, balanced nutrition education and smoking behavior control. The results show a significant increase in nutritional knowledge (p<0.05), the implementation of physical activity rules with a frequency of 3-5 x/week in 78%, duration 20-60 minutes in 76% of light-moderate exercise, decreased smoking habit significantly p=0.042 (p<0.05), increased physical fitness with VO2max value 29.28 + 7.68 (treatment group) vs 24.28 + 5.91 (control group) with p<0, 05, decreasing of blood sugar was 118.08 + 35.81 mg/dl (treatment group ) vs. 124 + 42.22 mg/dl with p value = 0.001 (p <0.05) with t- independent test. Meanwhile, the risk factor variables for the metabolic syndrome (obesity, cholesterol and blood pressure) showed a decrease but were not significantly different.

A QUANTITATIVE STUDY ON EVIDENCE OF VARICOSE VEINS AMONG DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUNDS IN THE CITY OF MOSUL IRAQ

The present study focuses on evidence of varicose veins (VV) in subjects on different parameters like occupations, gender, and smoking habits etc. in the City of Mosul, Iraq. A quantitative study was performed at Mosul Teaching Hospital between November 2019 and February 2020. Total sample size was 1052 in numbers. Subjects were mainly among different occupations like Nurses, address, Policemen, and teachers. Selected subjects were physically examined on general parameters who agreed to engage in this study. The rate of overall VV prevalence among different occupational backgrounds in the City of Mosul was found to be 200/1052 (19%). It was observed that the percentage of men (49%) and women (51%) and the mean age of the participants was (39.1+3.1). The entire study analyses the effects of various parameters like obesity (BMI), gender, age, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption etc on prevalence of VV. Additionally study also concludes that more occupational standing which has significant contributions in prevalence of VV can be prevented by sitting or walking at frequent intervals whenever is appropriate. So, by improving clinical practices the incidences of vascular diseases may be reduced.

The Wellness Program for Physical Fitness and Decreasing Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

Indonesia is currently facing a double burden of disease. The high rate of communicable diseases has been followed by high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes mellitus. This study aims to produce a holistic approach model in the form of a Wellness Program in an effort to improve physical fitness and decrease of metabolic syndrome for civil servants. This study was designed with an experimental design. Subjects were members of civil servants in Klungkung Regency, Indonesia who have one or more of syndrome metabolic risk. Subjects were divided into two groups, namely the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group is a group that is given a wellness program model in the form of physical exercise according to the rules of frequency, intensity and duration, balanced nutrition education and smoking behavior control. The results show a significant increase in nutritional knowledge (p&lt;0.05), the implementation of physical activity rules with a frequency of 3-5 x/week in 78%, duration 20-60 minutes in 76% of light-moderate exercise, decreased smoking habit significantly p=0.042 (p&lt;0.05), increased physical fitness with VO2max value 29.28 + 7.68 (treatment group) vs 24.28 + 5.91 (control group) with p&lt;0, 05, decreasing of blood sugar was 118.08 + 35.81 mg/dl (treatment group ) vs. 124 + 42.22 mg/dl with p value = 0.001 (p &lt;0.05) with t- independent test. Meanwhile, the risk factor variables for the metabolic syndrome (obesity, cholesterol and blood pressure) showed a decrease but were not significantly different.

Relationship of smoking with COVID-19 and its adverse effects

There is a direct relationship between COVID-19 and smoking. This relationship has detrimental consequences for smoking and COVID-19 on body physiology. Smoking causes disc herniation, lungs diseases, heart illness, lipid profile changes, muscle protein synthesis declines, head, neck, and gastric cancers, cerebral inflammation, weight loss and obesity. The smoking habit of pregnant women leads to miscarriage, poor foetal growth, and low lipid and protein levels in breast milk. In males, it also reduces semen ejaculation and seminal vesicle volume. The treatment is based on quitting the smoking. Preventive measures such as a healthy diet and regular exercise can help to mitigate the negative consequences of smoking. In addition, smoking has been recognised as a major factor in COVID-19 transmission. Tobacco smokers are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 infection due to poor lung function, cross-infection, and vulnerable hygiene behaviors. People who have smoked in the past are thought to be more susceptible than non-smokers to have more severe COVID-19 illness symptoms. COVID-19 is more common among smokers than nonsmokers. Current smokers are five times more likely to have influenza infection than non-smokers. Smoking has been identified as one of the risk factors linked to infection and death.