Adult Group Research Articles

Urinary paraben exposure increases the risk of a low estimated glomerular filtration rate in Taiwanese general population

BackgroundThe inconsistent relationship between chemical exposure and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been examined in only a few studies. We investigated the association between paraben exposure and indicators of renal function in a total of 361 individuals recruiting from a representative study. MethodThe levels of urinary parabens, including methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP), were measured using UPLC-MS/MS. The association between paraben exposure and indices of renal function was assessed using multiple logistic regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). ResultsThe median levels of urinary parabens in the adult group were significantly higher than those in the minor group, that is, 397 vs. 148 ng/mL for MeP, 38.8 vs. 13.6 ng/mL for EtP, 117 vs. 57.7 ng/mL for PrP, and 6.61 vs. 2.79 ng/mL for BuP (all P < 0.001). In the adult group, multivariate regression models confirmed a positive association between the albumin-to-creatinine ratio and urinary MeP (β = 0.580) and a positive association of BUN (β = 0.061) and a negative association of eGFR (β = −0.051) with urinary EtP (all P < 0.001). In the adult group, compared with the lowest tertile group, the adjusted odds ratio in the third tertile (T3) of urinary EtP levels indicated a 3.08 times increased risk of eGFR abnormalities, followed by the second tertile (T2) with a 2.63 times increased risk. The generalized additive model (GAM) and BKMR models showed a non-linear correlation between urinary EtP levels and early CKD, as well as reduced eGFR. We observed a significant positive cumulative effect of urinary paraben on eGFR, and a significant positive single exposure effect of urinary EtP with eGFR abnormality. ConclusionWe found a significant association between exposure to EtP and an increased risk of high BUN levels and decreased eGFR.

Elemental Impurity Analysis in Five Different Types of Coffee: Assessment of Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Risks

In the study, the levels of Cd, Pb, As, and Hg elemental impurities potentially present in coffee bean samples from Indonesia, Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala, and Türkiye were determined using chromatographic analysis, and the analysis results were utilized to assess the risks on human health. The risk assessment of coffee was calculated for one or three servings per day for 365 days a year. Exposure to coffee consumption was calculated according to age groups of young adults and middle-aged adults (20-65 years). When Cd, Pb, As and Hg levels in coffee samples were analyzed, Cd in coffee samples was found to be in the range of approximately 3.70 - 5.89 µg/kg, Pb in the range of 25.68-41.11 µg/kg, As in the range of 1.45-6.64 µg/kg and Hg in the range of 1.06-5.06 µg/kg. Hazard Index (HI) values for all elements in the assessment of non-carcinogenic risks were found to be &amp;lt;1.0. When the cancer risk (CR) value was calculated for Cd, Pb, and As, it was found that the CR value did not exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) criteria in all coffee samples in both scenarios. Considering the assessment of the health risks of elemental impurities in five different coffee bean samples, it was concluded that all samples' CR and HI values did not exceed the USEPA criteria.

Seasonal patterns of hip fracture incidence and mortality rates across age groups of older adults in Israel.

This study investigates the seasonal patterns of hip fracture occurrence and mortality rates in the elderly population of Israel. In this retrospective study, we examined a random sample of 400 patients who underwent a hip fracture repair surgery at a 495-bed hospital in northern-central Israel during the years 2021-2022. Our findings reveal a heightened incidence of hip fractures during the spring (30.8%) in contrast to relatively consistent rates during other seasons (22-24.2%). Patients experiencing hip fractures in the spring were notably younger and had shorter hospital stays compared to those in other seasons. Furthermore, we identified seasonal variations in hip fracture incidence concerning gender, culture, and nationality. Over the 2-year follow-up period, 20% of patients had succumbed to mortality. The highest survival rate was associated with hip fractures sustained in the spring, while the lowest rates were observed in the autumn and winter. While our study highlights significant seasonal variations in hip fracture occurrence and mortality rates among the elderly population in Israel, caution is warranted in interpreting the implications for post-fracture care and resource allocation. The observed heightened incidence of hip fractures during the spring, particularly among younger patients with shorter hospital stays, suggests the need for further investigation into potential risk factors and preventive measures specific to this season. Additionally, our identification of seasonal variations in hip fracture incidence across demographic factors underscores the importance of tailored interventions to address the diverse needs of different populations.

‘It's not the boogeyman’: How voice assistant technology is bridging the digital divide for older people

Technologically illiterate users are frequently excluded from access to technology and its benefits, creating a digital divide. Some groups of older adults are among those considered technologically illiterate and experiencing vulnerability. For this population, traditional technologies that require physical interactions have proven to be stressful and create a phenomenon known as ‘technophobia’. Herein lies the potential value of touchless technologies such as voice assistants, which may offer a new avenue for older adult inclusion. Thus, our study delves deep into the lifeworld of older people to understand how voice assistants can impact inclusion and well-being. Adopting a longitudinal approach, we observed and interviewed participants (n = 32) in their homes, augmenting this qualitative data with secondary data from voice assistant device reports. Our initial results show that older people perceived the effect of illiteracy in their first encounter with the technology, but over time, they learnt to overcome initial challenges and started building relationships with artificial intelligence. In the final part of the study, participants identified the value of using technology and recognised that technology ‘is not the boogeyman’ but rather enables tech-inclusion and well-being. Under the lens of transformative service research, we provide a framework that illustrates how artificial intelligence is healing older people's digital divide, showing core elements of inclusion (access to new technology, support with activities, sense of participation, independence, convenience and source of information), and well-being (sense of pride, entertainment option, eased loneliness, improved self-esteem).

Spatiotemporal analysis of regional and age differences in tuberculosis prevalence in mainland China.

Globally, tuberculosis is a leading cause of infectious disease deaths. China ranks third among the 30 high-burden countries for tuberculosis and accounts for approximately 7.4% of the cases reported worldwide. Since very few studies have investigated the age difference in tuberculosis prevalence in mainland China, therefore, the preliminary characterisation of age differences in tuberculosis patients is not well understood. The data of reported sputum smear-positive, tuberculosis and sputum smear-negative cases in 340 prefectures from mainland China were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention from January 2009 to December 2018. Multiple statistical analysis and GIS techniques were used to investigate the temporal trend and identify the spatial distribution of sputum smear-positive, tuberculosis and sputum smear-negative cases in the study area. The results showed that the incidence of sputum smear-positive and tuberculosis has dropped to a stable level, while sputum smear-negative exhibited a rising trend. Additionally, sputum smear-positive, tuberculosis and sputum smear-negative are still highly prevalent in northwestern and southwestern regions of China. Interestingly, the young adult group (20-50 age) and elder group (>50 age) are more susceptible to being infected with tuberculosis, while lower infection levels were recorded in the juvenile group (<20 age). The present study investigated the temporal-spatial distribution of sputum smear-positive, tuberculosis and sputum smear-negative cases in mainland China before the COVID-19 pandemic breakout, which would help the government agency establish an effective mechanism of tuberculosis prevention in high-risk periods and high-risk areas in the study region.

Physically Active Lifestyle Attenuates Impairments on Lung Function and Mechanics in Hypertensive Older Adults.

Physical activity attenuates hypertension in older adults, but its impact on pulmonary function and mechanics in hypertensive older adults is unknown. The study seeks to understand whether a physically active lifestyle can improve respiratory capacity, the mechanical efficiency of the lungs, and, consequently, the quality of life of these individuals, comparing data between groups of active and sedentary hypertensive older adults. This is a cross-sectional study. We evaluated 731 older adults, stratified into two initial groups: hypertensive older adults (HE; n = 445) and non-hypertensive older adults (NHE; n = 286). For a secondary analysis, we used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to sub-stratify HE and NHE into four groups: physically inactive hypertensive (PIH; n = 182), active hypertensive (AH; n = 110), physically inactive non-hypertensive (PINH; n = 104), and active non-hypertensive (ANH; n = 65). Lung function was measured by spirometry, and lung mechanics were assessed by impulse oscillometry. Hypertensive older adults presented reduced lung function compared to non-hypertensive older adults, and physical inactivity accentuated this decline. Regarding pulmonary mechanics, hypertensive older adults had higher resistance of the entire respiratory system (R5 Hz), the central airways (R20 Hz), and peripheral airways (R5-20 Hz), which may trigger bronchoconstriction. Hypertension is associated with impaired lung function and mechanics in older adults, and a physically active lifestyle attenuates these dysfunctions.

Psychosocial Well-Being Differences Between the Young Old, Old-Old, and Oldest Old: A Global Comparison.

We investigate global differences in psychosocial well-being between older adult age groups. Using multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed 2018 data (n = 93,663) from 9 countries/regions in the Health and Retirement Study international family of studies to compare age group differences in depression, loneliness, and happiness. Compared to the young old, the old-old reported more depression in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had higher risk in India and Southern Europe but lower risk in the United States. The old-old reported less loneliness in the United States but more in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had greater risk in Southern Europe. The old-old reported less happiness in Korea, while the oldest old had lower reports in Korea but higher reports in the United States. The psychosocial well-being of the oldest old is exceptionally good in the United States but exceptionally poor in Southern Europe.

Loss of Myeloid-Derived Growth Factor Leads to Increased Fibrosis in Mice After Myocardial Infarction

To investigate the effect of the loss of myeloid-derived growth factor (Mydgf) on the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts after myocardial infarction (MI). Two adult mouse groups, including a wild-type (WT) group and another group with Mydgf knockout (Mydgf-KO), were examined in the study. The mice in these two groups were tested for their cardiac function by measuring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (n=10). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) (n=3) was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of myofibroblast markers, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), periostin (postn), type Ⅷ collagen (col8al), and connective tissue growth factor (ctgf). Western blot (n=3) was performed to verify the protein expression levels of α-SMA. MI modeling was performed on the WT and the Mydgf-KO mice. Postoperative LVEF and LVFS (n=10) were then measured. The hearts were harvested and Masson staining was performed to determine the infarcted area (n=10). The heart samples of Mydgf-KO and WT mice were collected at d 7 and d 14 after MI, respectively, to verify the expression of myofibroblast markers (n=3). Compared with WT mice, LVEF and LVFS in adult Mydgf-KO mice showed no significant changes (all P>0.05). However, the mRNA levels of α-SMA and postn were upregulated, and α-SMA protein expression was also increased (all P<0.05). After MI, compared with WT mice, LVEF and LVFS in Mydgf-KO mice decreased, and the infarcted area increased significantly (all P<0.05). Furthermore, mRNA levels of α-SMA, col8al, postn, and ctgf were increased in Mydgf-KO mice. In addition, the α-SMA protein expression level was upregulated and α-SMA-positive fibroblasts were increased (P<0.05). Mydgf deletion promotes the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and aggravates myocardial fibrosis after MI.

Flow Cytometry as a New Accessible Method to Evaluate Diagnostic Osmotic Changes in Patients with Red Blood Cell Membrane Defects.

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a membranopathy that impacts the vertical junctions between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane of erythrocytes. The gold standard method for diagnosing it is osmotic gradient ektacytometry (OGE). However, access to this technique is scarce. We have devised a straightforward approach utilizing flow cytometry to quantify variations in an osmotic gradient, relying on FSC-H/SSC-H patterns. We studied 14 patients (9 pediatric, 5 adults) and 54 healthy controls (16 pediatric, 38 adults). After assessing the behavior of the samples in several osmolar gradients we selected for the study the 176, 308, and 458 mOsm/kg levels as hypo-osmolar, iso-osmolar, and hyper-osmolar references. We then selected the iso-osmolar point for assessment to determine its efficacy in discriminating between patient and control groups using a receiver operating characteristic curve. In the pediatric group, the area under the curve (AUC) was 1.0, indicating 100% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity. Conversely, in the adult group, the AUC was 0.98, with 80% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity. We introduce a method that is easily replicable and demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity. This technique could prove valuable in the diagnosis of spherocytosis.

Antroduodenal manometry findings in children with suspected pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

In 2018 diagnostic criteria for pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (PIPO) were established. Neuromuscular dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract is one of these, and often examined through antroduodenal manometry (ADM). There is little data on antroduodenal manometries in children. Our objectives were to retrospectively apply these criteria to children evaluated for suspected motility disorder, to reevaluate the ADM patterns and compare children who did and did not meet the PIPO criteria and also with healthy adults. Children with a suspected gastrointestinal motility disorder previously investigated with 24-h 8-lead ADM were reevaluated by applying the 2018 ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN PIPO diagnostic criteria and the 2018 ANMS-NASPGHAN guidelines. ADM findings were compared between children who retrospectively fulfilled a PIPO diagnosis, children who did not, and a control group of healthy adults. Of 34 children (age 7.9 (±5.1) years, 18 males), 12 retrospectively fulfilled the 2018 PIPO diagnostic criteria. Twenty-five children (10 in the PIPO group) had abnormal diagnostic findings on ADM, whereas 9 (2 in the PIPO group) had no such findings. A PIPO diagnosis implied a significantly higher degree of abnormal ADM patterns (2.33 vs. 1.23, p = 0.02). There were no major differences in quantitative ADM measurements between the groups except higher pressures in children. Children who retrospectively fulfilled a PIPO diagnosis had a significantly higher abundance of abnormal ADM findings compared with symptomatic children without PIPO and healthy adults. Our data indicate a need for set criteria for evaluation of ADM in children with suspected PIPO.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation effects on severity of angina, HRQoL and exercise capacity in patients with microvascular angina: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Microvascular angina (MVA) is a clinical syndrome caused by coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with angina symptoms and no flow limiting blockages in their main coronary arteries. Patients experience recurrent angina, low health related quality of life (HRQoL) and limited exercise tolerance, making them more likely to repeatedly present to healthcare services. Aim To establish the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on the severity of angina, HRQoL and exercise capacity among adults with a diagnosis of MVA compared to a no-exercise group. Methods Searches were performed in 14 online databases. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the independent effect of CR versus a no-exercise group in adults with a probable or definite diagnosis of MVA according to the COVADIS criteria. Risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane RoB2 tool at outcome level and the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework. Meta-analysis using random effects models were used to estimate mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Of the 15,873 reports identified, five studies (n=222) were included. Reasons for RoB judgements varied between studies and outcomes, however all were scored at either ‘high risk’ or ‘some concerns’. Participants were mostly female (97%), average ages ranged from 51 to 64 years. The CR programmes utilised aerobic exercise and resistance training. Meta-analysis of the effect of CR on severity of angina (2 RCTs; n=85) was not possible due to the limited data presented in one of the reports. The narrative synthesis concluded that there is no evidence of an effect of CR on severity of angina symptoms. Meta-analysis of the effects of CR versus no-exercise on HRQoL were conducted at domain level of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire (2 RCTs; n=75), and exercise capacity as measured by peak VO2 (3 RCTs; n=101). The evidence of the effect of CR versus no-exercise intervention of the SF-36 domains from the meta-analyses was classified as ‘very low certainty’, meaning we have very little confidence in the effect estimates calculated. CR versus no-exercise intervention was estimated to result in a SMD of 1.06 (95% CI -0.7 to 2.19, low certainty of evidence) for measurements of peak VO2 in favour of CR. A SMD of 1.06 is estimated to be equivalent to a 4.42 ml/kg/min change in peak VO2, which is believed to represent a clinically meaningful difference. Conclusions CR may improve exercise capacity outcomes in patients with MVA compared to controls, however our confidence in the effect estimate is limited. We remain uncertain as to the effect of CR on the severity of angina symptoms and HRQoL. High-quality, well-reported RCTs are needed to more rigorously assess the benefits and harms of exercise-based CR for adults with MVA.

Altered Endogenous Pain-Inhibitory Function in Older Adults With Chronic Pain Is Associated With Disruptions in Functional Connectivity During Resting State

Increasing research points to a decline in the ability to internally regulate pain as a contributing factor to the increased pain susceptibility in aging. This study investigated the connection between pain regulation and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in older adults with chronic pain. We compared functional magnetic resonance imaging rsFC of 30 older adults with chronic pain (69.5 ± 6.58 years, 14 males), 29 pain-free older (70.48 ± 4.60, 15 males), and 30 younger adults (20.0 ± 1.58, 15 males). Pain inhibition and facilitatory capabilities were assessed using conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation. Older adults with chronic pain displayed lower pain inhibition during the CPM than pain-free older and younger adults. rsFC analysis showed that older adults with chronic pain, in comparison with younger participants, displayed an abnormal hyperconnectivity between right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left amygdala, which was significantly correlated with lower pain inhibition during the CPM. Older adults with chronic pain displayed higher connectivity between the primary somatosensory cortex and nucleus accumbens than pain-free older adults. Finally, both older adult groups displayed reduced connectivity between brain structures involved in pain inhibition and processing in comparison with younger adults. Altogether, our results suggest that suffering from pain during aging leads to a dysfunction of pain-inhibitory processes, which significantly surpass those caused by normal aging. Furthermore, our results point to a key role of emotional and motivational brain areas, and their interaction with executive and somatosensory areas, in the reduced inhibitory capacity and likely the maintenance of chronic pain in aging. PerspectiveThis study examines the link between reduced pain-inhibition capacity and increased resting-state connectivity between affective, sensory, and executive brain structures in older adults with chronic pain. These findings could inform new pain assessment and treatment programs for this population.

The effects of different lung parts, age, and batches on the lung microbiota of healthy rats

Background Rat models are valuable tools to study the lung microbiota in diseases. Yet the impacts of different lung parts, young and mature adult stages, and the different batches of the same conditions on the healthy rat lung microbiome have not been investigated. Methods The rat lung microbiome was analyzed to clarify the lung part-dependent and age-dependent differences and to evaluate the effects of several ‘batch environmental factors’ on normal rats, after eliminating potential contamination. Results The results showed that the contamination could be identified and excluded. The lung microbiome from left and right lung parts was very similar so one representative part could be used in the microbiome study. There were significantly different lung microbial communities between the young and mature adult groups, and also between the different feeding batches groups of the same repetitive feeding conditions, but a common lung microbiota characterized by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria as the most dominant phyla were present in all adult rats. It indicated that the experiment under the same condition of the same rats batch was needed to compare the difference in the lung microbiota and repeated experiments were necessary to confirm the results. Conclusion These data represented that the lung bacterial communities were dynamic and rapidly susceptible to environmental influence, clustered strongly by age or different feeding batches but similar in the different lung tissue parts. This study improved the basic understanding of the potential effects on the lung microbiome of healthy rats.

Acute toxicity of chemotherapy in central nervous system germ cell tumour patients according to age.

SIOP-CNS-GCT-II European trial was opened for the treatment of patients of any age with central nervous system germ cell tumour (CNS-GCT). Four courses of pre-irradiation chemotherapy were delivered. The influence of patient age on chemotherapy related acute toxicity (CRAT) was assessed. CRAT was analysed according to age-groups: children (aged ≤11 years), adolescents (aged 12-17 years), adults (aged ≥18 years) and to chemotherapy type: CarboPEI (alternating etoposide-carboplatin/etoposide-ifosfamide) for non-metastatic germinoma; PEI (cisplatin-etoposide-ifosfamide) for standard-risk non-germinomatous GCT (NGGCT); PEI and high-dose PEI (HD-PEI), for high-risk or poorly responsive NGGCTs. 296 patients were assessable for CRAT: 105 children, 121 adolescents, 70 adults (max age: 41 years). Median cumulative doses/m² of chemotherapy were similar among age-groups. The proportion of germinoma over NGGCT (and accordingly use of CarboPEI chemotherapy) was higher in the adult groups (79%) versus the other two groups (62%). Delay in chemotherapy ≥7 days was noticed in 27%, 38%, and 19% of children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. Grade ≥3 haematological and non-haematological adverse events (AEs) were observed in 94%/31%, 97%/36%, and 77%/21% of children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. No toxic death was reported. Grade ≥3 AEs and delayed chemotherapies were significantly rarer in adults when compared with adolescents, even when adjusted on chemotherapy type: odds ratio: 0.1 [95%CI 0.02-0.4], and 0.2 [95%CI 0.1-0.4] in the group treated with CarboPEI. Adult patients can be treated safely with a chemotherapy intensive protocol, with even less toxicity than that observed in adolescents. Further work is required to understand age-related differences regarding toxicity.

A study on health care utilization out-of-pocket expenditure in rural central India: A cross-sectional study

Background Out-of-pocket health expenditures have significant adverse effects, potentially resulting in impoverishment and impacting the quality of life. Awareness of patterns of healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket expenses is essential for informing healthcare scheme decisions. According to estimates from the World Health Organization in 2005, illness and the financial strain of healthcare costs force 25 million households into poverty each year. The goal of the study is to assess the proportion of households incurring out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and The mean quality expended by households on healthcare. Methods In Wardha district, a cross-sectional study will be conducted. The pre-tested semi-structured survey will be administered to examine a sample of adult age groups, to identify sociodemographic data, utilization of healthcare services, and OOPE. A sample of 246 participants was selected by random sample method. Conclusion This study will help to improve and assess healthcare utilization and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures that lead to catastrophe and impoverishment. Awareness of the participants about health insurance. And they were known about the healthcare services.

Small non-coding RNA transcriptomic profiling in adult and fetal human brain

Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) make up ~1% of the transcriptome; nevertheless, they play significant roles in regulating cellular processes. Given the complexity of the central nervous system, sncRNAs likely hold particular importance in the human brain. In this study, we provide sncRNA transcriptomic profiles in a range of adult and prenatal brain regions, with a focus on piRNAs, due to their underexplored expression in somatic cells and tissue-specific nature. Using the WIND workflow, which combines two detection methods, we found 1333 (731 miRNAs, 249 piRNAs, 285 snoRNAs, and 68 other sncRNAs) and 1445 unique sncRNAs (770 miRNAs, 307 piRNAs, 289 snoRNAs, and 79 other sncRNAs) in developing and adult brains, respectively. Significant variations were found upon comparison of fetal and adult brain groups, with 82 miRNAs, 17 piRNAs, and 70 snoRNAs enriched in fetal brains and 22 miRNAs, 11 piRNAs in adult brains. This dataset represents a valuable resource for exploring the sncRNA roles in brain function, their involvement in neurological diseases, and the molecular mechanisms behind brain region interactions.

Development and validation of the Thai version of MNREAD acuity charts.

To develop and validate MNREAD acuity charts in the Thai language (MNREAD-TH). In total, 180 Thai sentences were generated using words specific to the primary 1-3 students. Each sentence contained 60 characters divided into three lines with even left and right margins and was evaluated by instructors in the education program in Thai. The selected 118 sentences were tested in 20 adults and 20 children by measuring reading time and recording the errors. Sentences with extremely high or low mean reading speeds were excluded. The remaining sentences were selected for contributing to the MNREAD-TH charts. For validation, the charts were tested in another 20 normal-sighted adult groups. In total, 118 sentences were tested on 20 adults (range: 23-58 years) and 20 primary school students (age: 8-9 years). The mean (SD) reading speeds in adult and children's groups were 134.09 (12.45) and 71.33 (10.77) words/min (wpm), respectively. After removing the sentences that deviated by ±1 SD from the mean reading speed, repeatedly had difficulty words, and had low subjective scoring, 60 matched sentences between the groups were selected to develop three versions of the MNREAD-TH chart. The intraclass correlation coefficients between charts were 0.85 for reading acuity, 0.94 for maximum reading speed, and 0.79 for critical print size. The MNREAD-TH charts can be reliably used for evaluating reading performance in Thai people for both children and adults with either normal sight or low vision. These charts are standardized and helpful in clinical trials involving reading.

Usefulness of the Kansas University Standing Balance Scale in inpatient rehabilitation: a retrospective validation study.

Adequate balance assessment is essential for designing rehabilitation programs and preventing falls. This study aimed to report the cross-cultural adaptation of the Korean version of the Kansas University Standing Balance Scale (KUSBS), investigate its concurrent and predictive validities, and examine aging-related differences. The adaptation was performed using a standard protocol. In this retrospective study, 1179 patients were included and classified into adult, young-old, old-old, and oldest-old groups. Furthermore, we compared the concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validities of the KUSBS and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Nonparametric analysis was also conducted. The Spearman rho test revealed strong correlation coefficients between the KUSBS and BBS (r s > 0.7; P < 0.001). At admission, the relationship was strong in the adult, young-old, and old-old groups (r s = 0.931, 0.913, and 0.914, respectively; P < 0.001) but not the oldest-old group (r s = 0.790; P < 0.001). At discharge, the correlation coefficients were above 0.9 in all groups. Additionally, the relationship between the changes in both scales was moderate-to-strong (r s > 0.68; P < 0.001). The predictive validity for independent walking of the KUSBS was strong (r s = 0.791; P < 0.001) and significantly lower than that of the BBS (r s = 0.833; P < 0.001; Z = -3.001; P = 0.003). Furthermore, the cutoff value of the KUSBS at admission to predict independent ambulatory walkers at discharge was 3.5 in ordinal ranking in all age groups. The KUSBS is a reliable and effective tool for measuring balance in patients in inpatient rehabilitation.

Blastocystis colonization and associations with population parameters in Thai adults.

Blastocystis is a unicellular eukaryote commonly found in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals. The prevalence of Blastocystis has been investigated in both developed and developing countries, yet its occurrence and distribution in rural locations has been less studied. Herein, we aimed to examine the distribution of Blastocystis colonization in Thai adults representing background populations along a rural/peri-urban gradient, as well as associations between colonization and personal characteristics. A total of 238 participants were recruited from rural and peri-urban areas situated in three provinces. The presence of Blastocystis in feces was evaluated using PCR and qPCR. Information on gender, age, region (province), rural/peri-urban location, and body mass index (BMI) was collected. The overall rate of Blastocystis carriage was 67.2%. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between Blastocystis carriage and region (p<0.05), location (p<0.001) and age group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that rural/peri-urban location and BMI were significantly associated with Blastocystis carriage. Nine subtypes (ST1-ST7, ST10 and ST23) were identified with ST3, ST7 and ST1 as the most abundant ones, in this order. The greatest diversity of subtypes, in terms of numbers, was found in the middle aged group (nine subtypes), while the least diversity was found in the young adult and obese (three subtypes each) groups. This study increases the understanding of the epidemiology of Blastocystis colonization and its association with population parameters and characteristics in middle-income countries.

Shift from Traditional to Modern Building Concepts and Designs in Ringim Town: A Comparative Study of Aesthetics, Values, Functions and Durability

This study is part of an Undergraduate Project for the award of “B.Tech (Hons) Building Technology Education” at the “Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University”, Bauchi State, Nigeria, and is aimed to identify the contrasts between Traditional and Modern Buildings in Ringim Town, Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria, with respect to their “Purposes, Durability, Aesthetics and Values. The study's subjects were the residents of Ringim Town, with 88 respondents drawn from ten cohorts of young people (under 40) and Adults (over 40) living in the Katutu, Galadanchi, Walawa, Majiyawar-Gari, and Marakawa Quarters. In order to better understand the shift from traditional to modern building concepts and designs in Ringim, the study used a quantitative approach, specifically a structured questionnaire that focused on groups of youths and adults and asked questions about functions, durability, aesthetics, and values. The answers to the research questions were analyzed using the simple mean and standard deviation. The study's conclusions showed that while traditional buildings in Ringim had greater fire, acoustic, and thermal insulation, they also have poor water resistance, to name a few drawbacks. It is advised that experts in the fields of Architecture, Town planning, and Construction, among others, pay attention to the indigenous Design theory, Technology, Artisanship, and Craftsmanship connected to the emergence of Traditional Building. Additionally, recommendations indicated that, for comparative purposes, comparable studies had to be carried out at other tiers of educational establishments, such as Colleges, Polytechnics, and Universities, as well as in other parts of the State and Nation.