Allage Groups Research Articles

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy in In Vitro Fertilization Using Comprehensive Chromosome Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The utility of pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A) is controversial, with older meta-analyses demonstrating improved pregnancy outcomes, while newer trials have not shown benefit. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis which aimed to evaluate the benefits of PGT-A using comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) and its effects on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes among randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a systematic search to identify RCTs comparing women undergoing PGT-A with CSS with women not undergoing PGT-A, from inception to December 2020. Random effects meta-analysis was utilized to calculate average odds ratios (OR) for clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), and miscarriage rate (MR). The heterogeneity of exposure was assessed using Forest plots and I2 statistics. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. Among 1251 citations, seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Biopsies of embryos were carried out at various developmental stages, including polar body, day 3, and day 5-6 of culture. Data was analyzed as all studies and blastocyst only. Meta-analysis failed to show improvement in OPRs using PGT-A in the all ages, <35 years old and ≥35 years old age groups. There was also no significant difference in CPRs in any group. The MR decreased with the use of PGT-A (among all biopsy types and among blastocyst biopsies) in the all-ages group, but not when stratifying according to patient age <35 and ≥35 years old. More data regarding the risks and advantages of PGT-A are needed to make a final decision on the value of this intervention in clinical practice. The exact magnitude of the benefit of PGT-A selection cannot be correctly determined until multiple standardized protocol IVF PGT-A trials are conducted.

Characterization and health risks of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in the gas and size-fractionated particulate phases in ambient air

Short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) have garnered significant attention because they have persistence and potential toxicity, and can undergo long-distance transport. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) inhaled in the size-fractionated particulate phase and gas phase can carry different risks to human health due to their ability to accumulate in different regions of the respiratory tract and exhibit varying deposition efficiencies. In our study, large-volume ambient air samples in both the size-fractionated particulate phase (Dp < 1.0 μm, 1.0–2.5 μm, 2.5–10 μm, and Dp ≥ 10 μm) and gas phase were collected simultaneously in Beijing using an active sampler. The overall levels of SCCPs and MCCPs were relatively high, the ranges being 57–881 and 30–385 ng/m3, respectively. SCCPs tended to be partitioned in the gas phase (on average 75% of the ΣSCCP concentration), while MCCPs tended to be partitioned in the particulate phase (on average 62% of the ΣMCCP concentration). Significant correlations were discovered between the logarithm-transformed gas–particle partition coefficients (KP) and predicted subcooled vapor pressures (PL0) (p < 0.01 for SCCPs and MCCPs) and between the logarithm-transformed KP values and octanol–air partition coefficients (KOA) (p < 0.01 for SCCPs and MCCPs). Thus, the slopes indicated that organic matter absorption was the dominant process involved in gas–particle partitioning. We used the ICRP model to calculate deposition concentrations for particulate-associated CPs in head airways region (15.6–71.4 ng/m³), tracheobronchial region (0.8–4.8 ng/m³), and alveolar region (5.1–21.9 ng/m³), then combined these concentrations with the CP concentrations in the gas phase to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDIs) for inhalation. The EDIs for SCCPs and MCCPs through inhalation of ambient air for the all-ages group were 67.5–184.2 ng/kg/day and 19.7–53.7 ng/kg/day, respectively. The results indicated that SCCPs and MCCPs in ambient air do not currently pose strong risks to human health in the study area.

Research on the path of local colleges participating in community education of affordable rental housing in industrial parks

The affordable rental housing community in industrial parks has become a large-scale community, but little attention has been paid to this type of community education. Therefore, based on the concept of educational equality, this project aims to explore the path of local colleges participating in community education for affordable rental housing in industrial parks. With convenient samples, empirical research is conducted on the current situation and residents’ needs of affordable rental housing community education in the Qianwan New Area Industrial Park. And it has been found that community residents have a high willingness to learn on one hand, however, on the other hand, there are few types of community education to meet their demand; Although there are many public space resources, the utilization of scene spaces is far from sufficient. Based on these findings, this research explores and proposes the paths for local colleges to participate in community education for affordable rental housing in industrial parks through resource sharing models, in-depth community services for all-age residential groups, the cultivation of application-oriented talents to promote the integration of industry and education and enriching spiritual connotation of community education content. By enhancing the quality of all-age residents, namely, the new citizens including industrial workers and their relatives, it can promote the construction of a learning-oriented society and contribute to the realization of common prosperity. This study has certain theoretical and practical significance in enriching the research field of community education, promoting social integration of new citizens, and helping to achieve common prosperity.

Risk and incidence of cardiovascular disease associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

We aimed to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and estimate the global incidence of PCOS-associated CVD. We conducted a meta-analysis across five databases to evaluate the risk of CVD among women with PCOS. The global incidence of PCOS-associated CVD was calculated by a population attributable fraction modelling using the pooled risk ratio (RR), PCOS prevalence, CVD incidence number, and age-standardized rate (ASIR), from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019. An estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to assess the temporal trend of PCOS-associated CVD. The risk of CVD was significantly increased in women with PCOS for an all-age group (pooled RR 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.36-1.69) and 10- to 54-year-olds (1.37, 1.17-1.59). Globally, from 1990 to 2019, the PCOS-associated CVD cases in women across the all-age group has raised from 102 530 to 235 560. The most affected regions were East Asia and the Pacific (108 430, 66 090-166 150) in 2019. South Asia has the highest increase trend of PCOS-associated CVD ASIRs (EAPC 2.61%, 2.49-2.73). The annual increase in ASIR in PCOS-CVD incidence for the 10-54 age group (EAPC 0.49%, 0.41-0.56) is faster than that of the all-age group (0.34, 0.27-0.42). The middle- or low-middle sociodemographic index countries experienced higher increase trend of CVD due to PCOS in the past 30 years. Women with PCOS have a significantly increased risk of CVD. Efficient measures to enhance its prevention and treatment are important for regions with a high PCOS-associated CVD burden, especially premature CVD in women under 55 years.

Abstract WP265: Connecting the Dots: Human Development Index and Stroke Burden in ASEAN

Introduction: Stroke's far-reaching impact encompasses societal, economic, and healthcare dimensions. A country's Human Development Index (HDI), comprising its performance in health, education, and living standards, offers insights into the nation's capacity in stroke management. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) adaptive growth strategy, accommodating the diverse developmental stages of its members, presents a unique context for exploring the relationship between HDI and stroke burden in the region. Methods: Data regarding the burden of stroke, expressed in the form of stroke-related mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) rates, within the current 10 members of ASEAN were sourced from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Data on the 2019 HDI for these countries were obtained using the tool on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) website. Statistical analysis included normality testing and correlation assessments using Pearson and Spearman methods across 3 age groups (all-ages, 20+, 55+) with 3 sex sub-groups (both-sexes, female, male) in each age category. Results: In terms of mortality, higher HDI correlated significantly with lower mortality rates in all three age groups for both-sexes and female sub-groups. The male sub-groups also showed similar findings in the 20+ and 55+ age groups, but no significant correlation was found in the all-ages group (Table 1). For DALY, a significant correlation was observed between higher HDI and reduced DALY rates in the 20+ and 55+ age groups across all sex sub-group, but no significant correlation emerged in the all-ages group for any of its sex sub-groups (Table 2). Conclusion: These findings collectively suggest that higher levels of human development, as indicated by HDI, are associated with lower stroke-related mortality and DALY rates in ASEAN countries, emphasizing the importance of effective strategies to alleviate the burden of stroke in the region.

The burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly growing in every region of the world from 1990 to 2019.

The latest meta-analyses suggest NAFLD is increasing globally. Its limitations may preclude accurate estimates. We evaluated the global NAFLD burden and its' trends in prevalence and NAFLD liver-related mortality (LRM) by sex, age, region, and country over the past 3 decades using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. Crude and age-standardized NAFLD prevalence and NAFLD-LRM rates were obtained for all-age individuals with NAFLD from 204 countries/territories between 1990 and 2019. Joinpoint trend analysis assessed time trends. Weighted average of the annual percent change (APC) over the period 1990-2019 and 2010-2019 were reported. All-age (children and adults) crude global NAFLD prevalence increased:10.5% (561 million)-16.0% (1,236 million); an APC increase: + 1.47% (95% CI, 1.44%, 1.50%). Among adults (+20y), crude NAFLD prevalence increased (1990: 17.6%, 2019:23.4%; APC: + 1.00%, 95% CI: 0.97%, 1.02%). In all-age groups, the crude NAFLD-LRM rate (per 100,000) increased (1990: 1.75%, 2019: 2.18%; APC: + 0.77% (95% CI, 0.70%, 0.84%). By Joinpoint analysis, from 2010 to 2019, worsening all-age trends in NAFLD prevalence and LRM were observed among 202 and 167 countries, respectively. In 2019, there were 1.24 billion NAFLD prevalent cases and 168,969 associated deaths; Asia regions accounted for 57.2% of all-age prevalent cases and 46.2% of all-age NAFLD-LRM. The highest all-age crude NAFLD prevalence rate was the Middle East and North Africa (LRM 26.5%); the highest all-age crude NAFLD-LRM rate was Central Latin America (5.90 per 100,000). NAFLD is increasing globally in all-age groups-over 80% of countries experienced an increase in NAFLD and NAFLD-LRM. These data have important policy implications for affected countries and for global health.

The Global Burden of premature cardiovascular disease, 1990–2019

AimsPremature cardiovascular disease (pCVD) definition varies in literature, with age cut-offs ranging from 50-65 years. While there is some literature available on pCVD in North America, comprehensive data on its global burden is still lacking which hinders the development of efficient strategies for early detection and prevention. In this study we aimed to investigate the global trends in pCVD related morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2019. MethodsThe 1990-2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database was utilized to examine global trends in cardiovascular disease-related total mortality, mortality rates, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) within individuals aged 15-49 years. The findings were further analyzed based on factors such as age, sex, and Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the number of global annual pCVD deaths increased by 25%, from 992,067 (95% UI 1,042,261 – 946,383) to 1,241,484 (95% UI 1,339,193 –1,146,252). The rate of associated mortality decreased by 13%. Metabolic conditions were the most significant risk factors for pCVD mortality. Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death across all age groups. pCVD mortality presented progressive widening between high and low SDI regions. Additionally, sex-specific disparities in CVD mortality were significantly greater in the premature age group as compared to all-age groups. ConclusionpCVD is an increasingly significant global cause of morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affects males and individuals living in less privileged regions. Furthermore, ischemic heart disease and stroke were identified as the main drivers of pCVD global burden.

Dependency network approach to the oral production of English- and Chinese-speaking healthy older adults

ABSTRACT Linguistic research has increasingly focused on the language of older adults, although findings remain controversial on whether language skills decline with age. Additionally, extant studies only deal with certain aspects of language, such as lexis or syntax, and few have systematically investigated this topic. This paper assumed a holistic perspective and dependency network approach to explore healthy older adults’ oral language at lexical, syntactic, and discourse levels. By constructing English and Chinese dependency treebanks, and corresponding dependency networks, of 100 healthy older adults and comparing them with those of all age groups, we found that 1) many parents appear before their dependents in the older adults’ English treebank due to the massive use of articles before nouns; in the Chinese treebank, the reverse applies because of the large number of aspect markers; 2) the mean dependency distance (MDD) of English older treebank is longer than that of the all-age group. Furthermore, there are many compound and complex sentences in older adults’ speech; the MDD of the Chinese treebank is shorter, while the syntactic structure conforms to grammatical rules; 3) the average degree (<k>)s of both English and Chinese older adults’ dependency networks are higher and clustering coefficient (C)s slightly lower, indicating strong connectivity of words in the two networks and coherence in participants’ speech. In conclusion, there was no significant deterioration in the oral language of healthy older adults, although cross-language comparisons show very fine, detailed, and revealing differences between English and Chinese treebanks and networks.

Monitoring the Consumption of Sugar-sweetened Beverages: an Input to Republic Act No. 10963 (TRAIN LAW)

Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been alluded to as a contributorto increasing public health problems – including overweight and obesity, diabetes, and othermetabolic diseases. Republic Act No. 10693 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion(TRAIN), passed into law on 19 Dec 2017, has included in its scope the collection of excise taxon SSBs and earmarking of this for the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act. Thestudy determined the trend in the consumption of SSBs among households and population groupsfrom 2013 to 2018–2019. The data were taken from the Food Consumption component of the2013 National Nutrition Survey (NNS), the 2015 Updating of the Nutritional Status of FilipinoChildren and Other Population Groups, and the 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey(ENNS). Data for this study also includes the household’s place of residence and wealth status,as well as individuals grouped by age and physiological status. Results showed the proportion ofhouseholds and individuals consuming SSB and volume intake declined from 2013–2018–2019.Volume intake per day and the percentage of households consuming carbonated beverages,sweetened powdered drinks, and sweetened tea declined in 2018–2019. The richest and richhouseholds had higher SSB volume intake. Sweetened juice drink intake declined across allage and population groups, whereas sweetened tea volume intake declined among adolescentsand adults. The decline in SSB intake may be attributed to the implementation of the TRAINLaw in 2018. Restricting inappropriate advertisement, clear labeling, and strong advocacy andpublic education on the health consequences of consuming SSBs in schools and communitiesshould be done to sustain further decline. Moreover, tax incentives may also be granted tomanufacturers that adhere to proper labeling.

115 Effect of an enriched social environment on social maturation of horses

Conventional husbandry practices rarely allow for sociality of horses. Under natural conditions, horses learn the social codes of their group mates during the first years of life. Horses raised in box stalls have more aggressive interactions with humans than horses housed in a group setting in a pasture. Such conditions can potentially compromise the well-being of the horses. The study aimed at providing Information on the temporal evolution of the young horse's behavior in a social group to estimate better the exact age of social maturity. The study was run in a breeding stud for sport horses born and raised in large social all-age groups (20–60 horses), always outdoors on large pastures and fed roughage only. Salt lick was available. From the age of 4 years, the behavior of 9 horses was observed daily during daytime (6 h between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.) between June and August each year for 3 consecutive years. Each horse was observed for a total of at least 90 h and its social interactions (defensive, offensive, or affiliative) were recorded. The data was analyzed with a GLMM. The type of interaction was considered a fixed factor in interaction with age and season. The identity of horses was considered a random factor. We found that 4yrs-old horses had fewer defensive interactions than 5- and 6yrs-old horses (4yrs-5yrs P < 0.0001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001). The affiliative and offensive interactions decreased continuously fromthe age of 4 to 6 yrs with 5yrs old showing in between levels (Affiliative: 4yrs-5yrs P < 0.0001, 5yrs-6yrs P < 0.001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001; Offensive: 5yrs-6yrs P = 0.009, 4yrs-5yrs P < 0.001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001). While getting older, horses expressed less offensive agonistic behavior and more defensive behavior suggesting a phenomenon of social maturation from the age of 4 to 6 years. This might be the consequence of a better ability to establish and respect the group's dominance hierarchy. It is also possible that more mature horses stay closer to same-rank individuals, unlike younger ones, decreasing then the risk of offensive interactions. The fact that the decrease in affiliative interactions was associated with a decrease in offensive interactions go along with the hypothesis of a social maturation and the development of better socio-cognitive skills. This development of social behavior questions the fact that many horses are traditionally isolated from congeners when they start working, from the age of 2, latest 3 years old. Our results suggest that such horses are excluded from a social group during a sensitive period of social maturation. This could induce a lack of social skills that could be necessary later for interacting normal with congeners and humans.

2183. Population-based Mortality Rate Trends of Potential Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Brazil from 2006-2019

Abstract Background Pneumococcal Disease is an important public health problem. In 2010, childhood pneumococcal vaccination with the 10-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV-10) was introduced in the Brazilian national immunization program. No public universal program is currently available for older adults; selected populations at risk are eligible to receive pneumococcal vaccine in few public centers across the country. The objective of this study was to assess trends in mortality rate (MR) due to potential pneumococcal pneumonia (PPP) from 2006-2019 in Brazil. Methods Death data were obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and population data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). ICD-10 codes included J13-J18. Yearly MR were calculated per 100,000 people. The percentage of change was calculated using average rate in the pre-(2006-2009) and post-PCV10 (2011-2019) vaccine introduction periods. Joinpoint regression was performed to assess changes in rates per 100,000 people and annual percentage changes (APCs) for each line segment and 95% confidence interval were estimated. Results During 2006-2019, 887,304 deaths by PPP occurred in all-age groups. Most cases were reported as unspecific pneumonia (99.8%). Mean MRs decreased in children &amp;lt; 5 years in post-PCV10 period, in contrast to increasing rates in adults ≥ 50 years (Table 1 and Figure 1). Among children less than 18 years, significant decreasing trends in MR by 5.5%, 2.9%, and 1.6% per year were observed in &amp;lt; 1year, 1-4 years, and 5-17 years, respectively, between 2006-2019 (Table 2). Although significantly decreasing trends were observed in 60-64 years and ≥65 years age groups during 2015-2019, the average APC increased by 1.0% (95%CI;0.3%;1.8%) and 1.4% (95%CI;0.5%;2.2%) in the post-PCV-10, respectively (Table 2). Table 1.Mean mortality rates by age groups for potential pneumococcal pneumonia in the pre-vaccination period (2006-2009) and post-vaccination period (2011-2019) , BrazilFigure 1.Mortality rate of pneumonia by age group in parallel with infant vaccination coverage, 2006-2019Table 2.Jointpoint analysis for mortality rate trends of potential pneumococcal pneumonia by age groups, Brazil, 2006-2019 Conclusion In post-PCV10 period, mortality rate of PPP declined mostly for infants. For older adults, the mortality trends have been consistently higher compared to &amp;lt; 18 age groups, being unable to demonstrate indirect effects of childhood vaccination. These findings inform decision makers about needs related to pneumococcal disease prevention and interventions among older adults. Disclosures Cintia I. Parellada, MD, PhD, MSD Brazil: Employee of MSD Brazil, a subsidiary of Merck &amp; Co., Inc.,|MSD Brazil: Stocks/Bonds Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, MD, PhD, Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Advisor/Consultant Carolina Zampirolli, Msc, Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Advisor/Consultant|Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Employee of IQVIA who received funding to execute this study Ariane Abreu, Msc, Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Advisor/Consultant|Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Employee of IQVIA who received funding to execute this study Guilherme Julian, Msc, Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Advisor/Consultant|Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Employee of IQVIA who received funding to execute this study Thais Moreira, MD, MSc, MSD Brazil: Employee of MSD Brazil, a subsidiary of Merck &amp; Co., Inc.,|MSD Brazil: Stocks/Bonds Licieri Figueiredo, MD, Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Employee of MSD Brazil, a subsidiary of Merck &amp; Co., Inc.,.

Different functional alteration in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across developmental age groups: A meta-analysis and an independent validation of resting-state functional connectivity studies.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly complex and heterogeneous disorder. Abnormal brain connectivity in ADHD might be influenced by developmental ages which might lead to the lacking of significant spatial convergence across studies. However, the developmental patterns and mechanisms of ADHD brain connectivity remain to be fully uncovered. In the present study, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for seed-based whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity studies of ADHD published through October 12th, 2020. The seeds meeting inclusion criteria were categorized into the cortex group and subcortex group, as previous studies suggested that the cortex and subcortex have different temporal patterns of development. Activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis was performed to investigate the abnormal connectivity in different age groups (all-age group, younger: <12 years, older: ≥12 years). Moreover, significant convergence of reported foci was used as seeds for validation with our independent dataset. As with previous studies, scarce results were found in the all-age group. However, we found that the younger group consistently exhibited hyper-connectivity between different parts of the cortex and left middle frontal gyrus, and hypo-connectivity between different parts of the cortex and left putamen/pallidus/amygdala. Whereas, the older group (mainly for adults) showed hyper-connectivity between the cortex and right precuneus/sub-gyral/cingulate gyrus. Besides, the abnormal cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical functional connectivity in children, and the abnormal cortico-cortical functional connectivity in adults were verified in our independent dataset. Our study emphasizes the importance of developmental age effects on the study of brain networks in ADHD. Further, we proposed that cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical connectivity might play an important role in the pathophysiology of children with ADHD, while abnormal cortico-cortical connections were more important for adults with ADHD. This work provided a potential new insight to understand the neurodevelopmental mechanisms and possible clinical application of ADHD.

Low temperature, cold spells, and cardiorespiratory hospital admissions in Helsinki, Finland

There is only limited scientific evidence with varying results on the association between hospital admissions and low ambient temperatures. Furthermore, there has been no research in Northern Europe on cold-associated morbidity. Therefore, this study investigated the associations of daily wintertime temperature and cold spells with cardiorespiratory hospital admissions in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland. Daily number of non-elective hospital admissions for 2001–2017 was obtained from the national hospital discharge register and meteorological data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Quasi-Poisson regression models were fitted, controlling for potential confounders such as time trend, weekday, holidays, air pollution, barometric pressure, and influenza. The associations of cold season daily mean ambient temperature and cold spells with hospital admissions were estimated using a penalized distributed lag linear models with 21 lag days. Decreased wintertime ambient temperature was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction in the whole population (relative risk [RR] per 1 °C decrease in temperature: 1.017, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002–1.032). An increased risk of hospital admission for respiratory diseases (RR: 1.012, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.022) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR: 1.031, 95% CI: 1.006, 1.056) was observed only in the ≥ 75 years age group. There was an independent effect of cold spell days only for asthma admissions (RR: 2.348, 95% CI: 1.026, 5.372) in the all-ages group. Cold temperature increases the need for acute hospital care due to myocardial infarction and respiratory causes during winter in a northern climate.

OMMR: Co-registration toolbox of OPM-MEG and MRI.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG) has shown better flexibility in sensor configuration compared with the conventional superconducting quantum interference devices-based MEG system while being better suited for all-age groups. However, this flexibility presents challenges for the co-registration of MEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hindering adoption. This study presents a toolbox called OMMR, developed in Matlab, that facilitates the co-registration step for researchers and clinicians. OMMR integrates the co-registration methods of using the electromagnetic digitization system and two types of optical scanners (the structural-light and laser scanner). As the first open-source co-registration toolbox specifically for OPM-MEG, the toolbox aims to standardize the co-registration process and set the ground for future applications of OPM-MEG.

The ankle kinematic reference of normal gait pattern in Thai adults.

ObjectiveThis study was aimed to establish the reference values of ankle kinematics and factors associated with ankle kinematics of healthy Thai adults.MethodsA prospective cohort was conducted among healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 40 years and evaluated gait analysis between 2016 and 2020. After applying the modified Halen Hayes marker set, participants were assigned to walk 8–10 rounds with their preferred speed. Demographic data i.e., age, gender and body mass index (BMI) and ankle kinematics (varus-valgus, dorsiflexion-plantar flexion, foot progression, and ankle rotation) using motion analysis software were recorded and analyzed.Results98 volunteers (60 females and 38 males) aged 28.6 ± 5.4 years with body mass index 21.2 ± 2.0 kg/m2 were included. The average ranges of ankle kinematics entire gait cycle were varus-valgus −1.62 to 3.17 degrees, dorsiflexion-plantar flexion 0.67 to 14.52 degrees, foot progression −21.73 to −8.47 degrees, and ankle rotation 5.22 to 9.74 degrees. The ankle kinematic data in this study population was significantly different from the normal values supplied by OrthoTrak software of the motion analysis program, especially more ankle internal rotation at mid-stance (5.22 vs. −12.10 degrees) and terminal stance (5.48 vs. −10.74 degrees) with P < 0.001. Foot progression significantly exhibited more external rotation for 1.5 degrees on the right compared to the left side, and for 5 degrees more in males than females. One increment in age was significantly correlated with ankle internal rotation at mid-swing (coefficient 0.21 degrees, P = 0.039). BMI had no statistical association with ankle kinematics. Statistical parametric mapping for full-time series of angle assessments showed significantly different foot progression at initial contact and terminal stance between sides, and our ankle kinematics significantly differed from the reference values of the motion analysis program in all planes (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe reference of ankle kinematics of Thai adults was established and differences between sides and the normal values of the motion analysis program were identified. Advanced age was associated with ankle internal rotation, and male gender was related to external foot progression. Further studies are needed to define all-age group reference values.

Genetic diversity and epidemiological features of respiratory syncytial virus, Beijing, 2015–2019: A multicenter and all-age groups study

To investigate the genetic variability and the epidemiological features of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Beijing during five consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2019. We collected 36,927 samples (ages ranged from 1 day to 101 years old) from cases with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) using the Respiratory Pathogens Surveillance System (RPSS) in Beijing, 2015-2019. G gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed to identify RSV genotypes, clusters, and amino acid (aa) changes. In total, 764 (2.1%, 764/36927) cases were RSV positive, 52.1% cases were children under 5 years old, and 25.8% were elderly ≥ 60 years old. We obtained 369 sequences of the G gene. ON1 and BA9 were the dominant genotypes in Beijing. Sub-lineage 4 of ON1, which contains four aa substitutions (T113I, N178G, H258Q, and H266L), emerged in 2017 and became the predominant variant in 2018-2019. Sub-lineage 4 of BA9, which contains two aa changes (A131T, T137I), emerged in 2017 and became the predominant variant in 2019. We also observed 10 rarely reported nucleotide deletions in the 3' end of the G gene from five sequences of the ON1 genotype. With the exception of children < 5 years old, RSV infection mainly occurred in the elderly ≥ 60 years old. Newly emerged sub-lineages have replaced existing sub-lineage over time and become predominant in Beijing. Continued surveillance of the genetic diversity of RSV is necessary.

An Analytical Study of Investors’ Perception Towards Investing in Equity Mutual Funds During COVID-19 Situation

Mutual funds are treated as a vehicle of investment, which is suitable for the all-age groups of investors who want to take good return from their investment and are ready to bear risk. Equity Mutual Funds are those where funds are invested in equity shares of various companies. This research paper is an attempt to understand investor’s perception towards Equity Mutual Fund schemes during COVID-19 and to study and analyze various factors influencing investor’s perception. A survey was conducted via questionnaire and primary data was collected from 120 respondents from Pune city. It was found that there is an impact of COVID-19 situation on investor’s investment in Equity Mutual Fund schemes and it depends upon risk, fixed rate of return, SIP mode, company’s past track record, higher return, liquidity, tax saving option, sector wise, and size of the equity mutual fund. This study also suggests what kind of steps are needed to take to build up the investor’s confidence in Equity Mutual Funds schemes while investing during the outbreak of COVID-19 situation.

Examining social media peer support and improving psychosocial outcomes for young women with breast cancer.

162 Background: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) have unique survivorship needs due to life stage at point of diagnosis. Peer support sought by YWBC through social media channels appears to be rising. We aimed to understand the unmet needs of YWBC in order to develop a tailored peer support program to improve young women’s breast cancer experience and ultimately reduce psychosocial morbidity long-term. Methods: Using qualitative inquiry, we conducted semi-structured interviews with YWBC survivors and clinicians using purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria were women aged 40 years or younger at diagnosis, stage 0-IV disease. Survivors were minimum one year post-diagnosis and with active treatment complete. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and data was analyzed using Thorne’s Interpretive Description. Themes were reviewed with study team throughout data analysis. Results: Thirty-six participants were interviewed from ten centers across seven Canadian provinces; mean age 36 years. Participant reported demographics:18% ‘visible minority’, 9% ‘born outside Canada’, 7% ‘Indigenous’ and 54% of patients’ household income at or below Canadian average. At point of diagnosis 69% married, 44% had children and 9% pregnant or postpartum. Themes from YWBC interviewed focused on coping needs: feeling alone, misunderstood by professionals and misplaced among peers. Participants described all-age peer support groups risked triggering anxieties, lacked convenience and were comprised of women at later life stages with differing needs. YWBC reported lack of young age breast cancer-specific peer support. YWBC frequently found support through social media de novo, by following young-age breast cancer survivor pages, blogs and forums as well as virtual support groups. YWBC also report benefit from identifying similar life and cancer stage survivors globally and forming individual relations virtually, through direct messaging. Additionally, benefits described from age-specific social media support included unique shared experience and understanding, hope from positive outcomes of similar life stage diagnoses, and increased confidence and healthcare navigation for YWBC. Women unanimously requested one on one peer support program development - a survivor mentorship scheme specifically for YWBC that would provide the convenience of online support without the obligations or emotionally overwhelming nature of structured support groups. Conclusions: We have identified unique support needs from this young cohort of women that are not currently being met within standard Canadian healthcare pathways. We aim to develop a novel one on one peer support program for YWBC, to optimize psychosocial support and improve young women’s empowerment and autonomy in managing the effects of cancer long-term.

Prospective Clinical Study of Varicose Vein

Context: The varicose vein is a common chronic peripheral vascular disease affecting the lower limbs. They have significant impact on the quality of life. Even though considerable advances in understanding venous pathophysiology and modern imaging techniques have revolutionized the lower limb varicosity management, whether these inferences hold good for our population is a pertinent question. Aims: To evaluate the clinical presentation and surgical outcome of management of varicose vein. Settings and Design: Prospective observational study. Methods and Material: Prospectively patients with symptoms and signs of varicose vein are evaluated. Precise proforma used to collect patient's demographic details, clinical features, and investigation reports; during the study from August 2016 to November 2018. Statistical analysis used: univariate analysis, percentages. Results: This study includes 132 patients, seventytwo (54.54%) are males, and sixty (45.45%) are females. In this study, varicose veins are commonly seen in the 40–50yr's age, and the right limb was affected in 51.38% than the left limb 88 (48.62%). The incompetence of the Saphenofemoral junction valve is seen in 24 (13.26%) patients, saphenopopliteal Valve incompetent in 17 (9.39%) patients &amp; below knee perforator in 32 (17.67%) patients. Twenty-one out (15.90 %) of one thirty-two had a complication in our study; the commonest was surgical site infection in twelve (7.2%) patients. Conclusions: The varicose veins of lower limbs are a disease of the all-age adult group, common in fourth and fifth decades of life. Patients usually presents with complications rather than the disease itself. The wound infection is the common postoperative complication. Keywords: Flush Ligation; Saphenofemoral junction; Perforators; Varicose vein; Venous disease. Key Messages: Management of varicose vein is technology driven, Good results can be achieved by proper selection of patients and appropriate procedures.

Isolation Frequency of Uropathogenic Strains and Search for ESBL Producing Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Patients with UTI in Bechar (Algeria)

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic strains, mainly the global spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes accompanied both by the uncontrolled use of antibacterial agents and a considerable decrease in their activities, makes the monitoring of the resistance pattern one of the necessary means that could help the medical practitioners to choose the best treatment. For this purpose and during four months from March 1 to June 30 (2019), an experimental study has been carried out on urine specimens of 123 inpatients (IP) and outpatients (OP) at infectious disease service Boudjemaa TOURABI Public Hospital of Bechar (Algeria), aiming the detection of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae uropathogenic strains. Methods: Firstly, the antibiotic susceptibility testing has been carried out by using the disk diffusion method to determine not only the multidrug resistance patterns, but also the multiple antibiotic resistance MAR indexes of uropathogenic strains that were isolated from clinical IP and OP samples. Secondly, the ESBL detection was done using the following methods: synergy tests based on the synergy between a third-generation cephalosporin and clavulanate, double-disc synergy test (DDST) and phenotypic tests on a cloxacillin-containing agar. Results: As a result, 56 patients had a urinary tract infection (UTI) in overall 123 patients; thus, a frequency of 45,52%. Through a UTI’s frequency of 64,7%, the female gender was the most affected. All age groups were affected by UTI, with a mean age of 38,47±19,97 years old. Knowing that UTIs’ patients aging from 16 to 49 years old were the most affected compared to other ages’ groups, with a frequency of 66,6 and 50% for female and male gender, respectively. The microbial strains represented by the bacteria group were predominant, i.e. (98,22%) followed by yeasts (1,78%), where Gramnegative bacilli showed (96,36%) of the uropathogenic agents, so (3,64%) were Gram-positive bacteria. The antibiotic resistance profile of isolated Enterobacteriaceae showed very high resistance rates for the species of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, and Proteus spp to aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, and less against carbapenems and other drug groups. E. coli had presented the highest multidrug resistance followed by Klebsiella spp with a MAR index ranged from 0,53 to 0,82. Within this range, a total of 28 isolate (25 E. coli, 2 Klebsiella spp, and 1 Proteus mirabilis) had shown resistance against 9 to 14 out of the 17 tested antibiotics. The rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains was 23,07 and 55,26% for inpatients and outpatients, respectively, where E. coli was the most important ESBL producers out of all isolated strains. Conclusion: An alarming ESBLs rate for outpatients is usually higher among inpatients with UTI, who receive several classes of antibiotics. Such conditions should be considered as a major public health concern, and measures must be taken to establish the sources and drivers of this issue. Thus, the findings of this research push the health sector stakeholders as well as the scientific communities to act on reducing the transmission of the multidrug-resistant strains that threaten several classes of life-saving antibiotics.