Score Analysis Research Articles

The Effect of Blended Learning of Management Course on Art Management Students’ Performance at College of Sichuan, China

Background and Aim: Blended learning, or hybrid learning, is the integration of online educational resources and opportunities for interaction with traditional face-to-face classroom approaches. This study examined the impact of blended learning on the academic performance of art management students taking management courses at Sichuan College, China, with a specific focus on the application of the Chaoxing platform. Additionally, it explored the students' viewpoints regarding the utilization of the Chaoxing platform. The research objectives had been to determine the effectiveness of blended learning methods in enhancing the performance, management skills, and problem-solving ability of art management students in their management course, and to determine the extent to which blended learning methods influenced students' attitudes towards their intention to adopt the Chaoxing platform for management learning. Materials and Methods: The study employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches and combines quantitative analysis of pre-test and post-test scores with qualitative insights obtained from the open-ended questionnaire. There were a total of 61 undergraduate students who were studying art management and took part in the pre-test/post-test design. Each group underwent a single modality of teaching for a duration of eight weeks. The JAMOVI software program was used to analyze the quantitative data. The NVivo program was used to analyze qualitative data to investigate the experiences, usage, and recommendations of students regarding the Chaoxing platform. Results: The quantitative analysis revealed significant enhancements in performance, management skills, and problem-solving ability among students in the experimental group. Independent sample t-tests for all evaluated variables confirmed that there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups. The inclusion of qualitative observations provided additional depth, highlighting the favorable impact of blended learning on experience, usage, and recommendation. Conclusion: The study revealed that blended learning had a favorable impact on student learning outcomes, improving their performance, managerial skills, and problem-solving ability. The experimental group, which got blended learning using the Chaoxing platform, showed significant score changes compared to the control group, indicating the effectiveness of this platform in management education. The qualitative data indicates that the effective integration of blended learning can greatly improve the outcomes of art management education.

Laparoscopic jejunostomy during McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy: a propensity score analysis.

Nutrition is a key factor limiting the rapid recovery of patients undergoing esophagectomy, but there is as yet no consensus on the optimal route of nutritional support. This study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of laparoscopic jejunostomy (Lap-J) in comparison to conventional nasoenteral tube (NT) feeding in patients who underwent McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). A total of 577 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent McKeown MIE were included in this single-center retrospective study. They were divided into two groups based on whether or not an intraoperative jejunostomy tube (JT) was placed, and baseline information was made consistent between the 2 groups using propensity score matching (PSM). After exclusion and matching, 149 patients were included in each of the 2 groups. Compared with NT, patients who received JT had a shorter postoperative length of stay (11d vs 9d, P = 0.002), lower perioperative albumin loss rate (0.17 vs 0.13, P = 0.023), and lower rates of postoperative pneumonia (23 vs 3, P < 0.001) and pleural effusion (16 vs 5, P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of anastomotic leakage (AL) between the 2 groups. But in the group of patients with AL, the jejunostomy group had a significantly lower rate of perioperative albumin loss (0.20 (0.14-0.26) vs 0.12 (0.08-0.16) P = 0.03) and readmission (8 (40.0) vs. 2 (7.4) P = 0.019). Lap-J during the McKeown MIE has demonstrated good safety and feasibility, and it contributes to the recovery of AL, making its outcome safe and simple. National clinical trials registry: NCT06192212, registered January 4th, 2024.

Cognitive and behavioral effects of perampanel 4mg daily dose.

The neuropsychological adverse effects of antiseizure medications (ASMs) influence the tolerability, and in turn effectiveness of these medications, which can occur in a dose-dependent fashion. In this study, we examine the neuropsychological effects of perampanel (PER) at 4mg daily as this dose has not been previously assessed with objective cognitive tests. The study was originally designed to assess (1) effects of perampanel at 4mg using different titration rates, and (2) habituation over time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was halted, limiting the sample size needed to analyze titration and habituation effects. Therefore, we compared the neuropsychological effects of perampanel 4mg daily from non-drug baseline to the end of drug titration and end of drug maintenance in this randomized double-blind study of healthy volunteers. Treatment period was 6weeks total with 2weeks of variable titration followed by 4-week maintenance. Composite Z-scores were calculated by combining Z-scores from both cognitive (computerized and non-computerized) and behavioral tests. Secondary analyses were conducted on the independent cognitive and behavioral domain Z-scores, and on the raw scores from 19 items in the full battery. The overall composite Z-scores did not differ across baseline, the end of titration, and the end of maintenance. Similarly, individual cognitive and behavioral domain Z-scores did not differ across the three titration rates. Exploratory analyses of the raw scores were marginally significant on only two of the 19 neuropsychological measures. Perampanel 4mg daily was well tolerated with few neuropsychological effects in healthy volunteers.

Postpartum Pharmacologic Thromboprophylaxis and Venous Thromboembolism in a U.S. Cohort.

To evaluate the effect of administering postpartum heparin-based pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis on the incidence of postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE) and complications. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of all individuals delivering at more than 20 weeks of gestation at four U.S. hospitals from 2016 to 2019. Individuals with a personal history of VTE or thrombophilia, with an antepartum diagnosis of VTE, or receiving therapeutic anticoagulation were excluded. The exposure was postpartum heparin-based pharmacologic prophylaxis (including unfractionated and low-molecular-weight formulations). The primary outcome was VTE identified within 12 weeks of delivery. Secondary outcomes included hospital readmission and wound complications among individuals undergoing cesarean delivery. Baseline characteristics were compared between those receiving and those not receiving pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Augmented inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to estimate risk difference in outcomes among those who received prophylaxis. The effects are reported as a risk difference with 95% CIs. Positive and negative effects indicate benefit and harm, respectively. Of 64,886 deliveries included, the rate of heparin-based postpartum pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis was 13.8% (95% CI, 13.5-14.1%), and the rate of VTE was 0.11% (95% CI, 0.09-0.14%). Individuals receiving thromboprophylaxis were more likely to be older, to deliver by cesarean, and to have a comorbid health condition. In propensity score analysis, pharmacologic prophylaxis compared with no pharmacologic prophylaxis resulted in no difference in VTE (risk difference 0.0%, 95% CI, 0-0.16%) but an increased risk for hospital readmission (risk difference -1.36%, 95% CI, -2.51 to -0.14%) and wound complications (risk difference -1.45%, 95% CI, -2.35 to -0.65%). Use of postpartum pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis did not reduce postpartum VTE in this U.S. cohort. Findings may reflect persistent confounding despite covariate adjustment or suggest that the current practice of administration of thromboprophylaxis (eg, dosing, timing of initiation, length of use) is ineffective.

Empowering Educators: An Action Research on the Implementation of Smart Excel Tool for Enhanced Learner Assessment

This action research investigates the effectiveness of the SMART Excel Tool, which is a user-friendly Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, custom-designed to enable the smooth calculation and analysis of student grades. This study addresses issues of time consumption and proneness to errors resulting from manual calculations, usually incurred by teachers, improving workload efficiency. A teacher survey (n=48) investigated current practice in the analysis of student Mean and Mean Percentage Score. Current practices were generally agreed to (Overall WAM: 3.19), although some areas of best practice emerged, including the manual categorization of scores (WAM: 3.10) and highlighting MPS scores (WAM: 3.10). Following the implementation of the SMART Excel tool and a related training session, teacher perceptions had changed significantly to the positive (Overall WAM: 3.42). It was reported by teachers that they found the tool very useful with a WAM of 3.64, easy to use with a WAM of 3.44, and accessible technical support with a WAM of 3.30. These findings suggest that the SMART Excel Tool has great potential to reduce teachers' workload around data analysis. These findings suggest that the SMART Excel Tool should be implemented more widely within the school division. Supplemental training in video format and user guides can provide individuals with different learning styles the ability to have a reference for teachers for continuing use. Future research at this point in time should examine if the tool has a long-term effect of reducing teacher workload while improving student learning outcomes, along with any shifts in teaching practice. It would also be interesting to examine the applicability of the SMART Excel Tool in other educational contexts, such as its application in elementary schools or other subject areas. In view of taking up these recommendations and continuing to explore, this research can help lessen teacher workload, increase the efficiency of data analysis, and engender a more streamlined and supportive educational environment.

Depression symptom-specific genetic associations in clinically diagnosed and proxy case Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Depression is a risk factor for the later development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but evidence for the genetic relationship is mixed. Assessing depression symptom-specific genetic associations may better clarify this relationship. To address this, we conducted genome-wide meta-analysis (a genome-wide association study, GWAS) of the nine depression symptom items, plus their sum score, on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (GWAS-equivalent N: 224,535–308,421) using data from UK Biobank, the GLAD study and PROTECT, identifying 37 genomic risk loci. Using six AD GWASs with varying proportions of clinical and proxy (family history) case ascertainment, we identified 20 significant genetic correlations with depression/depression symptoms. However, only one of these was identified with a clinical AD GWAS. Local genetic correlations were detected in 14 regions. No statistical colocalization was identified in these regions. However, the region of the transmembrane protein 106B gene (TMEM106B) showed colocalization between multiple depression phenotypes and both clinical-only and clinical + proxy AD. Mendelian randomization and polygenic risk score analyses did not yield significant results after multiple testing correction in either direction. Our findings do not demonstrate a causal role of depression/depression symptoms on AD and suggest that previous evidence of genetic overlap between depression and AD may be driven by the inclusion of family history-based proxy cases/controls. However, colocalization at TMEM106B warrants further investigation.

"The M-APNE score: an objective screening tool for OSA highlighting the area under the inspiratory flow-volume curve".

Polysomnography (PSG) is resource-intensive but remains the gold standard for diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). We aimed to develop a screening tool to better allocate resources by identifying individuals at higher risk for OSA, overcoming limitations of current tools that may under-diagnose based on self-reported symptoms. A total of 884 patients (490 diagnosed with OSA) were included, which was divided into the training, validation, and test sets. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses, we developed a scoring system incorporating male sex, age, sawtooth pattern, area under the inspiratory flow-volume curve (AreaFI), and neck circumference to objectively identify patients at higher risk of OSA. Sensitivity and specificity were evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) metrics. The M-APNE Score was compared to other non-symptom-based tools, the No-Apnea Score and the Symptomless Multivariable Apnea Prediction (sMVAP) model, using the Delong test. The M-APNE Score showed sensitivity rates of 79.3% in the training set, 70.8% in the test, and 80% in the validation set. ROC analysis for M-APNE score yielded AUCs of 0.82 in the training, 0.76 in the test, 0.82 in the validation set. The discriminative accuracy of M-APNE Score were found to be better than the No-Apnea Score (AUC = 0.82 vs. 0.76, p < 0.001) and the sMVAP (AUC = 0.82 vs. 0.75, p = 0.001) in the training set. Hosmer Lemeshow test indicated good calibration for M-Apne Score (p = 0.46). The M-APNE Score is a robust and objective tool for OSA screening, potentially reducing classification errors and improving accuracy.

Opioid prescribing patterns following surgical interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze opioid prescribing behavior following surgical interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), focusing on differences in postoperative opioid prescribing practices between patients who undergo surgical procedures in operative room (OR) settings vs. non-operative room (non-OR) settings. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a 10% random sample of the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus for Academics database, including men who underwent surgical interventions for BPH from 2015–2020. Propensity score analysis and inverse probability treatment weighting were employed to adjust for potential confounders. Primary outcomes included opioid receipt, cumulative days of opioid use, and morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD). Results: Among the included men (n=6022), those undergoing procedures in OR settings were more likely to receive opioid prescriptions postoperatively compared to those in non-OR settings (42.78% vs. 28.00%, p&lt;0.001). While cumulative days and MEDD of opioid prescriptions did not significantly differ between groups, there was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of opioid receipt duration (p=0.0128). The adjusted model showed significantly higher odds of opioid prescription for men undergoing OR procedures (odds ratio 1.922, 95% confidence interval 1.690–2.185). Conclusions: Men undergoing BPH surgeries in OR settings were more likely to receive opioid prescriptions postoperatively, suggesting potential overprescription. Despite similar cumulative opioid use, differences in prescription rates indicate a need for improved postoperative pain management strategies, possibly using non-opioid alternatives. Future research should focus on optimizing pain control, characterizing actual opioid consumption, and considering patient-specific factors in surgical decision-making.

Association of a remote monitoring programme with all-cause mortality and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure: National-scale, real-world evidence from a 3-year propensity score analysis of the TELESAT-HF study.

To examine the association of a remote monitoring programme (RMP) with all-cause mortality and hospital admissions for heart failure (HF) within the French healthcare system. A national-scale, real-world, propensity-weighted cohort study was conducted using the SNDS French database from August 2018 to December 2022 (NCT06312501). Patients receiving standard of care (SoC) were compared with those receiving RMP (Satelia® Cardio, NP Medical). The Satelia® Cardio algorithm adjusted the monitoring frequency based on symptom and weight changes, and provided tailored web-based patient education. The RMP included a digital interface for proficient patients and phone monitoring by nurses for those uncomfortable with digital technology. Data were sourced from over 300 healthcare centres across France. A propensity-weighted Cox regression model was used, supplemented by sensitivity analyses across subgroups. In total, 5357 RMP patients and 13 525 SoC patients were included after weighting. Weighted/adjusted analyses showed lower all-cause mortality for RMP patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.70; p < 0.0001), persisting across hospitalization and/or long-term illness status subgroups (HR 0.52 to 0.75). RMP was neutrally associated with HF hospitalization rates (rate ratio [RR] 0.95; 95% CI 0.89-1.02) but linked to less time in hospital (-2.1%, p < 0.0001) and fewer emergency visits (RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.75-0.92; p = 0.001). In France, RMP with customized monitoring frequencies and educational strategies was associated with lower all-cause mortality, emergency visits, and time spent in hospital in patients with HF which may enhance nationwide HF management.

Autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorders: beyond the comorbidity

ObjectiveAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high rates of comorbidity with other mental disorders, including anxiety disorders and obsessive–compulsive disorder. Beyond a mere concept of comorbidity, recent literature is speculating the existence of a neurodevelopmental nature of such mental disorders. The aim of the study is to investigate the distribution of social-phobic, obsessive–compulsive and panic-agoraphobic traits within a sample of individuals with ASD, social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (PD).Methods40 participants with ASD, 40 with SAD, 40 with OCD, 40 with PD and 50 HC were assessed with the Social Anxiety Spectrum—Short Version (SHY-SV) questionnaire, the Obsessive—Compulsive Spectrum—Short Version (OBS-SV) questionnaire and the Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum—Short Version (PAS-SV) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Kruskal–Wallis test and Chi-square test.ResultsWhen analyzing SHY-SV scores, the SAD group obtained the highest scores, with individuals with ASD following closely, significantly surpassing the scores of the remaining diagnostic groups. In the examination of OBS-SV questionnaire scores, individuals with ASD once again secured the second-highest scores, trailing only the OCD group. These scores were notably higher than those of both the PD group and healthy controls. In the analysis of PAS-SV scores, the ASD group once again achieved the highest scores after the PD individuals, although this time the difference was not statistically significant compared to the other diagnostic groups.DiscussionThese findings highlight the central role of the autism spectrum in SAD and OCD diagnoses. They provide support for the hypotheses of a neurodevelopmental basis for social anxiety and OCD, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting a dimensional and interconnected view of mental health conditions.

Statin Use and the Risk of Graves' Orbitopathy: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Statin use is reported to reduce the risk of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) in Western populations. However, study regarding the protective effect of statins against GO in Asians with Graves' disease (GD) is scarce. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of statins in preventing GO in Asian GD patients. Materials and Methods: This nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study used data from beneficiaries aged >40 years diagnosed with GD from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2010 to 2020. The International Classification of Diseases codes, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes, and the surgery/procedure codes derived from the NHIRD were used to obtain the information on GD, GO, and statin use. Propensity score (PS) analysis with matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis (IPTW) was conducted to minimize confounding. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to compare the risk of GO among statin users and nonusers. Results: The final analysis included 102,858 patients; 7,073 were statin users (62.9 ± 10.6 years, 29.7% male), and 95,785 were nonusers (53.6 ± 10.4 years, 25.7% male). The crude incidence rate of GO among statin users and nonusers was 5.00‰ versus 6.75‰ and 4.91‰ versus 5.15‰ for the overall population and population after PS matching method, respectively. The Cox regression analysis showed that statin users had a significantly lower risk of GO (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] after PS matching 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.99, p = 0.037; adjusted HR after IPTW method: 0.64, CI: 0.51-0.79, p < 0.001). The risk of GO was not different among users of different kinds of statins (i.e., atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin, and other statins) or among different intensities of statins (low-to-moderate intensity vs. high intensity). Conclusions: The use of statins in Asian GD patients was associated with a reduced risk of GO. In addition, the risk of developing GO among users of commonly prescribed statins or users of different intensities of statins was not significantly different.

Effect of Probiotics on the Symptomatology of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Pilot Study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of using probiotics with strains related to dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid production on clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This randomized, controlled trial involved 38 children with ADHD and 42 children with ASD, aged 5-16years, who received probiotics (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Levilactobacillus brevis 109/cfu/daily) or placebo for 12weeks. Parent-reported symptoms were assessed using Conners' 3rd-Ed and the Social Responsiveness Scale Test, 2nd-Ed (SRS-2), and children completed the Conners Continuous Performance Test, 3rd-Ed (CPT 3) or Conners Kiddie CPT, 2nd-Ed (K-CPT 2). Executive functions, quality of life and sleep patterns were also parent-assessed. Intention-to-treat analyses, controlling for sociodemographic and nutritional covariates, revealed no significant inter-group differences in parent-reported or neuropsychological data after the probiotic intervention. However, age-stratified analyses showed improved hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms in younger children with ASD (Cohen's d = 1.245) and ADHD (Cohen's d = 0.692). Intra-group analyses supported these findings in the aforementioned age and intervention group for both diagnoses. An improvement in impulsivity for children with ASD was also observed in the intra-group analysis of the CPT commissions scores (probiotic: p = 0.001, Cohen's d = -1.216; placebo: p = 0.013, Cohen's d = -0.721). A better comfort score (quality of life) was shown in children with ASD (probiotic: p = 0.010, Cohen's d = 0.722; placebo: p = 0.099, Cohen's d = 0.456). The probiotics used, may improve hyperactivity-impulsivity in children with ASD or/and ADHD and quality of life in children with ASD. Further research is warranted to explore probiotics as an adjunctive therapeutic intervention for NDs.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05167110.

Submicron Dispersions of Phytosterols Reverse Liver Steatosis with Higher Efficacy than Phytosterol Esters in a Diet Induced-Fatty Liver Murine Model

Consumption of phytosterols is a nutritional strategy employed to reduce cholesterol absorption, but recent research shows that their biological activity might go beyond cholesterol reduction for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and novel phytosterol formulations, such as submicron dispersions, could improve these effects. We explored the therapeutic activity of phytosterols, either formulated as submicron dispersions of phytosterols (SDPs) or conventional phytosterol esters (PEs), in a mouse model of MAFLD. MAFLD was induced in mice by atherogenic diet (AD) feeding. The reversion of distorted serum and liver parameter values after a period of AD feeding was investigated after supplementation of the AD with SDPs, PEs, or a placebo (PT). Additionally, the metabolic parameters of fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, and inflammation were studied to understand the mechanism of action of phytosterols. AD supplementation with SDPs was shown to reduce liver fat, along with showing a significant improvement in liver triglycerides (TGs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and liver cholesterol levels. These results were reinforced by the analyses of the liver steatosis scores, and liver histologies, where SDP intervention showed a consistent improvement. Treatment with PEs showed slighter effects in the same analyses, and no effects were observed with the PT treatment. Additionally, SDP intervention reversed, with a higher efficacy than PEs, the effect of AD on the serum levels of TGs, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels, and glucose levels. And, exceptionally, while SDP improved HDL-cholesterol serum levels, PEs did not show any effect on this parameter. We provide evidence for the therapeutical activity of phytosterols in MAFLD beyond the regulation of cholesterol levels, which is increased when the phytosterols are formulated as submicron dispersions compared to ester formulations.

Cross-species analysis of genetic architecture and polygenic risk scores for non-contact ACL rupture in dogs and humans

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common serious orthopaedic disease in humans and dogs. Familial risk has been recognized in both species but interactions between genetic effects and environmental risk are not understood. We investigated ACL rupture heritability, genetic architecture, selection pressure, sharing of risk genes and biological pathways, and polygenic risk score (PRS) prediction of disease risk. In both species, ACL rupture has moderate heritability, is likely under negative selection, and has a highly polygenic architecture where thousands of variant effects act together to influence disease risk. In dogs, we found hotspots of regional heritability. We also confirmed sharing of multiple risk genes. Our findings challenge the dogma that non-contact ACL rupture is predominantly due to a single overload injury event. Our results also suggest that accurate PRS prediction of ACL rupture risk is an achievable goal in both species, enabling identification of individuals for personalized medical care.

Single-Cell Multi-omics Assessment of Spinal Cord Injury Blocking via Cerium-doped Upconversion Antioxidant Nanoenzymes.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs the central nervous system and induces the myelin-sheath-deterioration because of reactive oxygen species (ROS), further hindering the recovery of function. Herein, the simultaneously emergency treatment and dynamic luminescence severity assessment (SETLSA) strategy is designed for SCI based on cerium (Ce)-doped upconversion antioxidant nanoenzymes (Ce@UCNP-BCH). Ce@UCNP-BCH can not only efficiently eliminate the SCI localized ROS, but dynamically monitor the oxidative state in the SCI repair process using a ratiometric luminescence signal. Moreover, the classic basso mouse scale score and immunofluorescence analysis together exhibit that Ce@UCNP-BCH effectively facilitates the regeneration of spinal cord including myelin sheath, and promotes the functional recovery of SCI mice. Particularly, the study combines snATAC-eq and snRNA-seq to reveal the heterogeneity of spinal cord tissue following Ce@UCNP-BCH treatment. The findings reveal a significant increase in myelinating oligodendrocytes, as well as higher expression of myelination-related genes, and the study also reveals the gene regulatory dynamics of remyelination after treatment. Besides, the ETLSA strategy synergistically boosts ROS consumption through the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-related pathways after SOD-siRNA treatment. In conclusion, this SETLSA strategy with simultaneously blocking and dynamic monitoring oxidative stress has enriched the toolkit for promoting SCI repair.

Employment Status and HIV Viral Load in Chilean Adult Population: A Propensity Score Analysis.

We set out to investigate the potential impact of unemployment on HIV viral load in individuals living with HIV at the biggest HIV-related healthcare centre in Chile. We analysed a cross-sectional dataset of 803 adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. The main exposure was employment status. The outcome, detectable HIV viral load, was operationalised using a cut-off of HIV viral load at 20 copies/mL. We applied a propensity score method, the inverse probability of treatment weighting to control for measured confounders. We found that 219 (27.3%) of participants were unemployed. Being unemployed was associated with increased odds of being detectable (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.18-2.71) compared to being employed. Additionally, we found that those unemployed and non-adherents have higher odds of being detectable (OR = 2.53, 95%CI = 1.18-5.41). Unemployment status may influence HIV viral load. However, further research is needed to determine and understand the social structure behind those relationships in the Chilean people living with HIV.

Effect of applying a diabetes risk score on lifestyle counselling and shared decision-making in primary care: A pragmatic cluster randomised trial.

There is a lack of studies on the impact of diabetes risk scores on diabetes prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of applying a non-invasive diabetes risk score as component of routine health checks on counselling intensity and shared decision-making (SDM) in primary care. Cluster randomised trial, in which primary care physicians (n = 30) enrolled participants (n = 315) with statutory health insurance without known diabetes, ≥ 35 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27.0 kg/m2. In the intervention group, the German Diabetes Risk Score (GDRS) was applied as add-on to the standard routine health check. Outcomes were length and intensity of the counselling interview and the process of SDM. Analysis was by intention-to-treat using mixed models. In the intervention group, higher odds were found for a more intensive counselling interview regarding physical activity, healthy diet and body weight (e.g., participants` perspective: odds ratios between 1.8 and 2.5) compared to controls. Analysis of total SDM score showed a more participative counselling interview in the intervention than in the control group. GDRS use in routine primary care improves intensity of lifestyle counselling and process of SDM already in people with moderate diabetes risk.

Denosumab and clinical outcomes among men with osteoporosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Direct evidence for fracture risk reduction of medications used among men with osteoporosis is very limited. This study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of denosumab in reducing fracture risk. This study included 13,797 men aged ≥ 50years with osteoporosis who had initiated denosumab in Taiwan. Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database includes all Taiwan residents' complete health claim data. We compared incidence rates of clinical fractures between patients on denosumab 60mg subcutaneously every 6months (on-treatment) and patients ending therapy after one administration (off-treatment). Propensity score (PS) analysis, adjusting for measured differences at baseline covariates, was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio using a Cox proportion hazards model. During follow-up, 248 hip fracture events occurred. The crude incidence rates of hip fracture were 1.13 events and 1.73 events per 100 person-years in on-treatment and off-treatment cohorts, respectively. After PS inverse probability of treatment weighting, the cohorts achieved balance in all 59 covariates. The hip fracture event rate was lower in on-treatment cohort versus off-treatment cohort by 36% (hazard ratio, 0.64 [95% CI 0.50-0.83]). A similar magnitude of risk reduction was observed in clinical vertebral and nonvertebral fractures. A series of sensitivity analysis, including a validation analysis using a-million individual health records, demonstrated that unmeasured confounders were not suggested to impact study result interpretation. In this large, real-world study evaluating denosumab treatment among men with osteoporosis, the observed fracture risk reductions were consistent with the available risk reductions demonstrated in clinical trials among women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Public Interest in Research on Aging: Analysis of Altmetric Attention Scores Over 5 Years.

This study pinpoints the areas in gerontological research that have commanded the most public attention as scored by Altmetric. We collected 12,740 outputs published in gerontological journals over 5 years from 2017 to 2022. Next, we identified the top 5% of outputs with the highest Altmetric Attention Scores. After removing duplicate publications and those without an abstract, 588 outputs remained. Our content analysis of the abstracts was conducted deductively and inductively. Theme 1 (50%; N = 293) revolved around "Health and Well-Being" (Theme 1). Theme 2 (28%; N = 164) was about "Health Services, Interventions and Innovations." Theme 3 was about "Informal and Long-Term Care" (13%; N = 80). Theme 4 focused on "Structural Inequalities" affecting older adults (9%; N = 51). Gerontologists should strengthen collaboration with other stakeholders to better engage the public across different age-related issues. These partnerships will enable the creation of initiatives that better serve the needs of aging populations.

Autism-spectrum quotient mediates the relationship between clinical symptoms and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Social dysfunctions can affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia. The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) is a widely used measure of innate autistic traits. However, in patients with schizophrenia, the score may represent the severity of autism-like social dysfunctions as a consequence of symptoms. We tested the hypothesis that AQ would mediate the relationship between clinical symptoms and QOL in patients with schizophrenia, based on the assumption that the AQ measures autism-like social dysfunctions rather than autistic traits in this population. We analyzed data from 108 outpatients with schizophrenia. The relationships among the scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), and the AQ were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Path analyses of the total scale scores revealed partial mediation, but not full mediation or independent effects. However, both the AQ and PANSS scores could be mediators. SEM including the three domain scores of PANSS, the two factors of the AQ, and the three subscale scores of the SQLS showed a good fit of the AQ mediation model, but not the symptom mediation model, supporting our hypothesis. In this final model, the relationship between negative symptoms and QOL was mediated by autism-like social dysfunctions, whereas positive symptoms directly affected QOL. Our findings advance our understanding of what the AQ measures when applied to patients with schizophrenia and suggest that autism-like social dysfunctions are important treatment targets for improving QOL in this population.