Common Age Research Articles

THE PREVALENCE OF SARCOMA IN LATVIA DEPENDING ON GENDER AND AGE OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms that arise from the mesenchymal tissues, including bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and deep skin tissues. The World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of Soft Tissue and Bone encompasses over 80 distinct histologic subtypes of sarcomas, each with unique morphologic and molecular features. The high degree of histologic diversity among sarcomas underlies their capacity to arise in virtually any anatomic site. Sarcomas represent a relatively uncommon form of cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all new cancer diagnoses in adults and approximately 15% in children. The global incidence of sarcomas is estimated to be approximately 8 cases per million per year for bone sarcomas and 30 cases per million per year for soft tissue sarcomas. The objectives of the study to provide a comprehensive overview of the gender and age differences in the epidemiology of sarcomas in Latvia across 10 years. This retrospective population-based study draws on epidemiological data regarding cases of bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas collected by the pathological registry of the hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics. From 2012 to 2022, 146 new cases of sarcoma were diagnosed in Latvia. Of these, 74 (50.7%) were men and 72 (49.3%) were women. The average annual number of new cases was 6.73 for men and 6.55 for women. The age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 people per year was 0.8 for men and 0.5 for women. The youngest patient was 14 years old and the oldest was 87 years old. The most common age group for the sarcomas was between 61-70 years old (19.2%). The study found that the incidence of sarcomas in Latvia was higher in males than in females, and that the incidence was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2016.

Development of violence-associated penetrating trauma in the Düsseldorf metropolitan region over a5-year period (GewPen study)

Penetrating injuries are arare but recurring emergency situation in the out-of-hospital and in-hospital emergency settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of injuries associated with penetrating violence across aGerman metropolitan region over a5-year period. In the retrospective study, adatabase query of the control center of the Düsseldorf rescue service area was used to identify and descriptively analyze all rescue service operations with penetrating violence-associated injuries in the years 2015, 2017, and 2019. For those patients who were transferred to the major trauma center, afurther analysis of the in-hospital course was performed. In the 3 years 2015, 2017 and 2019 atotal of 266 patients (age: 33 ± 14years, male: 79%) could be recorded (2015 vs. 2017 vs. 2019: n = 81 vs. n = 93 vs. n = 92, respectively). The most common age group involved had an age range of 15-34years. Aparticularly higher frequency of emergency calls was found for the areas of Old Town, City Center, and one other district (Oberbilk). Ahigh frequency of rescue missions was found in the nights from Saturday to Sunday between 20.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. Rescue missions with emergency physicians on board increased over the years (2015 vs. 2019: 27 vs. 42%, p = 0.04). The primary weapons used were knives (56%), broken glass bottles (18%) and broken glasses (6%). Out of all patients 71 (27%, injury severity score11 ± 14) were admitted to the major trauma center. Among these patients, the proportion of immediate surgical care (2015 vs. 2019: 20% vs. 35%, p < 0.05) and positive alcohol detection increased over the years (2015 vs. 2019: 10% vs. 43%, p < 0.05). The 30-day mortality in the 3 years studied was 1.1% (n = 3). Penetrating injuries associated with violence are relevant but rare rescue missions. Future care strategies should focus on deployment of rescue resources close to the scene of the incident ("old town guard", central station), and prevention strategies should focus on weapon prohibition zones. A control of alcohol consumption should be discussed.

Study of Erectile Dysfunction in the Urology Department of the Gavardo Hospital

We report the results of a prospective descriptive study of erectile dysfunction in the Gavardo urology department. Over a 2-year period from 02 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 in the Gavardo urology department. We enrolled 7,230 patients, 113 of whom had erectile dysfunction, with a prevalence of 1.7%. The most common age group was 36-50 years. The mean age was 42.92 years with extremes of 20 and 73 years. Twenty-nine (29) patients (26.4%); 26 patients (23.3%) and 18 patients (16.4%) had a history of diabetes or hypertension and smoking respectively.22 patients (19.5%) presented with erectile dysfunction after adenomectomy. Farmers were the most affected compared with other occupations with a rate of 29.2% followed by civil servants with a rate of 20.4%. In our study, 83 patients (73.2%) were satisfied with IPDE5-based treatment.

SURVEY OF ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN

Background: Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for death, one of the main risks of cardiovascular disease. Clinical characteristics of hypertension are diverse, the early detection of symptoms of hypertension contributes significantly to early diagnosis and treatment. In Can Tho, there is little research on hypertension in children. Objectives: Describe the clinical and subclinical characteristics of hypertensive children being treated at the Cardiology Department, Can Tho Children’s Hospital. Materials and methods: Analytical descriptive cross-sectional study on 96 pediatric patients diagnosed with hypertension at Can Tho Pediatrics Hospital. Research subjects: Pediatric patients (&lt;16 years old) being treated at the department who are expected to have hypertension over a period of time. Sample selection criteria: Pediatric patients are expected to have hypertension determined according to the standards of the new Guidelines in Clinical Practice of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2017. Exclusion criteria: Family members do not agree to allow the patient to participate in the study. Children are not appropriate for measuring BP due tocongenital anomalies: Ventricular septal defect, Atrial septal defect, Patent ductus arteriosus, Tetralogy of Fallot. Results: The common age group is under 13 years old (60.4%). The male and female gender ratio is approximately 2.1/1. The stage 2 hypertension classification is the most common (49.8%). The rate of neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms was 59.4%, respectively; 19.8%; 24%. And there is no association between gastrointestinal, cardiovascular clinical symptoms and the grade of hypertension (p&gt;0.05). Hyperlipidemia, HbA1C in children with hypertension accounted for a high rate of 47.1% and 50%. While in BUN disorder, proteinuria accounted for a low rate of 5.3% and 26.3%. No abnormalities were noted on renal Doppler ultrasound. The rate of abnormal results on echocardiography, chest X-ray and ECG was 53.3%; 23.3%;13.7% respectively.

Use of UK faith Centre as a COVID-19 community vaccination clinic: exploring a potential model for community-based health care delivery.

Effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19 are essential to achieve global control of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Using faith centres may offer a promising route for promoting higher vaccine uptake from certain minority ethnic groups known to be more likely to be vaccine hesitant. This cross-sectional study explored attendees' perceptions, experiences of being offered, and receiving COVID-19 vaccination in a local mosque in Woking, Surrey, UK. About 199 attendees completed a brief questionnaire on experiences, views, motivations about attending the mosque and vaccination on site. The most common ethnic groups reported were White British (39.2%) and Pakistani (22.6%); 36.2% identified as Christian, 23.6% as Muslim, 5.5% as Hindu, and 17.1% had no religion. Genders was relatively equal with 90 men (45.2%) and 98 women (49.2%), and 35-44-year-olds represented the most common age group (28.1%). Views and experiences around receiving vaccinations at the mosque were predominantly positive. Primary reasons for getting vaccinated at the mosque included convenience, accessibility, positive aspects of the venue's intercultural relations, and intentions to protect oneself against COVID-19, regardless of venue type. Negative views and experiences in regards to receiving the vaccination at the mosque were less common (7% expressed no intention of recommending the centre to others), and disliked aspects mostly referred to the travel distance and long waiting times. Offering COVID-19 vaccination in faith centres appears acceptable for different faith groups, ensuring convenient access for communities from all religions and ethnic backgrounds.

The top 50 most-cited articles about COVID-19 and the complications of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis.

This bibliometric analysis examines the top 50 most-cited articles on COVID-19 complications, offering insights into the multifaceted impact of the virus. Since its emergence in Wuhan in December 2019, COVID-19 has evolved into a global health crisis, with over 770 million confirmed cases and 6.9 million deaths as of September 2023. Initially recognized as a respiratory illness causing pneumonia and ARDS, its diverse complications extend to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, hematological, neurological, endocrinological, ophthalmological, hepatobiliary, and dermatological systems. Identifying the top 50 articles from a pool of 5940 in Scopus, the analysis spans November 2019 to July 2021, employing terms related to COVID-19 and complications. Rigorous review criteria excluded non-relevant studies, basic science research, and animal models. The authors independently reviewed articles, considering factors like title, citations, publication year, journal, impact factor, authors, study details, and patient demographics. The focus is primarily on 2020 publications (96%), with all articles being open access. Leading journals include The Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA, with prominent contributions from Internal Medicine (46.9%) and Pulmonary Medicine (14.5%). China played a major role (34.9%), followed by France and Belgium. Clinical features were the primary study topic (68%), often utilizing retrospective designs (24%). Among 22,477 patients analyzed, 54.8% were male, with the most common age group being 26-65 years (63.2%). Complications of COVID-19 affected 13.9% of patients, with a recovery rate of 57.8%. Analyzing these top-cited articles offers clinicians and researchers a comprehensive, timely understanding of influential COVID-19 literature. This approach uncovers attributes contributing to high citations and provides authors with valuable insights for crafting impactful research. As a strategic tool, this analysis facilitates staying updated and making meaningful contributions to the dynamic field of COVID-19 research.

Rare inherited coagulation disorders in Alexandria University Children’s Hospital

Introduction Rare coagulation disorders (RCD) encompass a diverse range of conditions that differ in terms of frequency and clinical manifestations. Aim To describe clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with RCD attending Alexandria University Children’s Hospital complaining of bleeding symptoms. Methods This descriptive study enrolled pediatric patients with RCD in Alexandria University Children’s Hospital from December 2021 to June 2022. Results RCD were diagnosed in 64 patients aged 1 day–14 years. Factor ⅤⅠI deficiency was most common, with a prevalence of 29.6%, followed by fibrinogen disorders (23.4%), Factor XⅠ (15.6%), Factor X deficiency (12.5%), Factor V deficiency (10.9%), and Factor XIII deficiency (6.2%). Manifestations ranged from mild to serious presentation. The most common age at presentation was the first year of life. Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 10/64 patients; it was the initial mode of presentation in one of them. Global developmental delay as a complication occurred in one case. Buddi Chiari syndrome occurred in three cases due to fibrinogen deficiency. The most common rare coagulation disorder was Factor VII deficiency, followed by fibrinogen deficiency due to the high prevalence of consanguineous marriage. The presentation was heterogeneous and life-threatening, with challenges in treatment, including initiation of prophylaxis very early in life. Conclusion There was a significant correlation between factor activity in fibrinogen disorders, Factor X deficiency, and severity of bleeding. There was no correlation between Factor V, Factor VII, Factor XI, Factor XIII activity levels and bleeding severity, so we recommend studying genotype-phenotype correlation.

Sex Differences in Alcohol-related Cardiomyopathy

Alcohol-related Cardiomyopathy (ACM) manifests in humans with a significant history of alcohol use and is characterized by ventricular dilation and cardiac function impairment. Although the most common age group for ACM is males between the ages of 30-55, women require a lesser lifetime alcohol exposure to develop ACM than men. The objective of this study is to assess sexual differences in a mouse model of chronic plus binge alcohol consumption. We hypothesize that female mice exposed to chronic plus binge alcohol will not develop as severe cardiac dysfunction as their male counterparts. In this study, male (n=19) and female (n=14) C57BL/6J mice were provided chronic plus binge alcohol feeding. After 5 days of acclimation to the liquid diet, mice are fed ad libitum 5% ethanol (EtOH) liquid or isocaloric control liquid diet for 30 days. At 10 and 30 days, mice received an oral binge dose of EtOH (5 g/kg body weight), or isocaloric maltose dextrin solution (9 g/kg body weight). Noninvasive cardiac structural and functional data were obtained via echocardiography at baseline and following binges. After 30 days, cardiac hemodynamics was measured by open chest left ventricle catheterization. Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis was performed for each cardiac parameter, and significance was defined as p&lt;0.05. Male EtOH mice exhibited a significant decrease in stroke work (1119 ± 297 mmHg/mL when compared to male controls, 1622 ± 365 mmHg/mL; p= 0.03). Female EtOH mice had a nonsignificant decrease in stroke work (1242 ± 374 mmHg/mL when compared to female controls, 1423 ± 469 mmHg/mL; p= 0.80). Maximum left ventricular pressure was decreased 20% in male EtOH mice (p=0.003) but increased 10% in female EtOH mice (p=0.46). The maximum rate of pressure change within the ventricle was 24% lower in the male EtOH mice (p=0.02) and 9% higher in female EtOH mice (p=0.87). The minimum rate of pressure change within the ventricle was 24% higher in male EtOH mice (p=0.02) and 17% lower in female ETOH mice (p=0.44). After 30 days of EtOH exposure, male mice showed significant systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Female mice on the other hand, did not show substantial cardiac dysfunction after chronic plus binge ethanol exposure. Further experiments involving qPCR of proinflammatory and profibrotic markers will elucidate the molecular mechanism of sex differences in ACM development. R21AA029747 (JG &amp; CB) &amp; T32AA007577. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Transcultural Adaptation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure in a Rural Border Area of Greece.

Breast cancer awareness is a concept suggesting that awareness of signs and symptoms and early seeking of medical advice may decrease mortality, especially in limited resource settings. A modified questionnaire based on the breastcancerawarenessmeasure (BCAM) by Cancer Research UK was translated into Greek and used for the first time. Participants were women residing in a rural border area in Greece. For statistical analysisthe χ2 goodness-of-fit and Cramer's V test for categorical comparisons were used and Cronbach's alpha for reliability analysis. In total, 110 women filled out and returned the questionnaire. Respondents appeared to be inappropriately informed regarding the less common warning signs of breast cancer, the most common age of breast cancer occurrence, the national screening program, and the less important risk factors of breast cancer. On the other hand, most women appeared to be confident in recognizing breast changes and seeking medical advice if needed. The translated modified BCAM tool can be used to evaluate breast cancer awareness in Greek women. Future campaigns developed by policymakers should focus on improving breast cancer awareness, especially in socioeconomically deprived areas.

Perceptions About Marijuana Use in Pregnancy Among Pregnant Users and Nonusers in a State Without Legalized Recreational Cannabis [ID 2683513

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use in pregnancy is rising. The objective of this study is to compare attitudes regarding marijuana use among pregnant users and nonusers. METHODS: This was a prospective study (IRB #262700) in which a 35-question, anonymous survey was distributed to pregnant patients at outpatient prenatal visits across gestation. Questions included topics regarding marijuana use in pregnancy, perceived risks, and provider–patient education. RESULTS: 408/460 (88.7%) approached pregnant patients completed the survey. Self-reported rate of marijuana use during pregnancy: 11.8% (48/408). There were no ethnic differences in users and the most common age for use was 18–24 years (24/48). 79% (38/48) reported use two to three times weekly or greater. Average response score (Likert scale) for participants using marijuana compared to those who did not to the following statements were statistically significant and positive towards prenatal use: belief that pregnant patients should refrain from marijuana use: 2.31 versus 3.53 (&lt;.001); acceptability of medical marijuana: 3.68 versus 2.82 (&lt;.001); minimal health risk: 4.15 versus 2.96 (&lt;.001); support for legalization of recreational marijuana: 4.58 versus 3.51 (&lt;.001). Lack of counseling on cessation and risk of cannabis use in pregnancy were reported by 82% and 84% of participants with 74% of current users reporting lack of counseling. 54% of users desired more information regarding cannabis-related pregnancy complications. CONCLUSION: Higher-than-expected self-reported marijuana use during pregnancy. Lack of counseling on risks of marijuana use and importance of cessation highlight an important opportunity for counseling and intervention supporting current ACOG guidelines of SBIRT (screening, brief intervention, and treatment referral).

Pattern of Arrhythmia among Diabetes Mellitus Patients in South-South, Nigeria: 24-Hour Ambulatory ECG (Holter ECG) Study

Background: Diabetes is known to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, commonly associated with rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA), Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients have silent myocardial infarctions (MI) with conduction abnormalities like ectopics and others. Regular 12 lead ECGs may not capture subtle conduction abnormalities unlike Holter ECGs which takes longer time to record heart rhythms. The study aims to determine the occurrence and pattern of cardiac arrhythmias in Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: A total of 33 diabetic subjects with age ranged from 18 years and above presented to Goodheart Medical Consultants hospital for 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter ECG) using Schiller type (MT-101) Holter ECG machine. Results: In this study, the population consisted of 54.5% men and 45.5% women with a mean age of 63.4 ±14.41, the most common age group was 61–80 years with 42.4%. The two most common forms of arrhythmias for Holter ECGs in this study were supraventricular ectopics 36.4% and ventricular ectopics 33.3%. Conclusion: Supraventricular ectopics is the most common arrhythmia observed among the diabetic subjects in Southern Nigeria and was notably observed more in diabetic male subjects than females. This arrhythmia exposes them to risk of stroke and mortality. Diabetes-related arrhythmias may be a sign of other underlying illnesses.

Immunohistochemical (IHC) Expression of p16 in Various Grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) with Snuff Use in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a significant health concern, with various factors influencing its development and progression. Understanding these factors, including p16 expression and clinicopathologic features, is crucial for improved diagnosis and treatment. Objective: To compare various grades of OSCC based on immunohistochemical expression of p16 and clinicopathologic parameters. Methods: The comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Peshawar Medical College (PMC), and Peshawar Dental College (PDC) from August 2020 to August 2021. It included 53 cases of OSCC with documented snuff use history. Tumor sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and underwent immunohistochemical staining for p16 expression. Sample size calculation utilized G Power software. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0, employing the Chi-Square test to assess categorical variables. Results: Among the 53 OSCC cases, the majority were male (66.0%) with ages ranging from 26 to 85 years, the most common age group being 51-70 years. The tongue was the primary site for OSCC development. Well-differentiated cases were predominant (64.2%), followed by moderate (20.8%) and poor grade cases (15.1%). However, no significant association was found between p16 expression and OSCC grades. Notably, p16 expression tended to be higher in snuff users and well-differentiated OSCC cases, although not statistically significant. Conclusions: Well-differentiated OSCC cases exhibited the highest expression of p16, followed by moderate and poorly differentiated cases. However, no significant correlation was observed between p16 expression and OSCC in snuff users.

A study on OGD Scopy Findings in Acute Pancreatitis

Background: The aim of the study was to list different mucosal lesions in the established acute form of pancreatitis in the upper part gastrointestinal tract in endoscopy. Methods: We performed a prospective study in patients over 18 years of age with acute pancreatitis. Abdominal pain with sudden onset or serum amylase and/or lipase &gt; 2 times upper limit of normal. characteristic of acute pancreatitis in Abdominal computed tomography (CT) or typical findings of acute pancreatitis in Ultrasound scan. Patients who are unfit or not willing to undergo endoscopy or who have a peptic ulcer disease detected during endoscopy, peptic ulcer disease in the last 3 months is excluded. Results: In this study, the most common age group for acute pancreatitis was 30-60 years. In this study, alcohol is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, accounting for 90% of the study. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom. CT scan is most (100%) confirmatory in the diagnostic study of acute pancreatitis. This study involved 30 patients with acute pancreatitis. In OGD, 24(80%) patients had a positive finding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, in that 16 patients(53.33%) significant Gastritis found. An enlarged pancreas is the only CT finding in most cases. Conclusions: Esophagitis and duodenal and gastric ulcer are common endoscopic findings in acute pancreatitis. They do not correlate with the severity of pancreatitis.

A Study of Death Due to Railway Accidents: An Autopsy Based Cross Sectional Study Conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital

A train accident is defined as “Collision, Derailment, or any other event involving the operation of n- track equipment”. To estimate the pattern of injuries in Railway Accidents and to estimate the Cause of death and Manner of death in Railway Accidents. The present study is conducted in Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Stanley Medical College from January 2020 to December 2020 in all the cases of Railway Accidents subjected to postmortem examination. During the study period, 61 cases were subjected for autopsy, the most common age group is 20 to 40 years. The most commonly injured organ is Brain followed by Liver and most of them died within 12 to 24 hours prior to post mortem examination. The railway fatalities were more of accidental in nature, less frequently suicidal and rarely homicidal. Internal organs commonly involved Brain followed by spinal cord, liver etc., It is also found that injuries to the upper half of the body are more common when compared to that of lower half of the body. The most common cause of death was hemorrhage shock from Multiple injuries, followed by Head injury, Thoracic injury, and Abdominal injury.

Pattern of Head Injury in Fatal Road Traffic Accident: Retrospective Study

Road traffic Accident have been reported to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Due to increasing modernization, road traffic accidents have become exponentially more frequent and dangerous. Mortality rate from road traffic injuries accounts 29.2 per 100000 people5. This study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Silchar Medical College, Silchar, from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2022. The aim of the study is the pattern of head injuries in fatal road traffic accident. Out of the 981 autopsy cases were conducted during the above-mentioned period, a total of 200 cases were found deaths due to head injuries. Out of 200 cases, common age group involved was from 40-50 years, the deceased were more from rural areas. Maximum cases during winter season. Commonest injuries were scalp abrasion, linear fracture of skull and subdural haemorrhage. Head injury has become a common cause of death and disability among Road Traffic Accident cases. This further shows the need of strict implementations of traffic rules. Positive policy initiatives such as mandatory helmet legislation need reliable and consistent data to support ongoing monitoring and enforcement of such initiatives.

Demographic yearbooks as a source of weather-related fatalities: the Czech Republic, 1919–2022

Abstract. Demographic yearbooks of the Czech Republic, prepared by the Czech Statistical Office for the 1919–2022 period, contain official figures on the number of fatalities attributed to excessive natural cold, excessive natural heat, lightning, natural hazards, air pressure changes, and falls on ice or snow, as well as details about the sex and age of the deceased, covering a 104-year period or parts of it. These yearbooks, influenced by evolving international classifications of diseases, tend to underestimate the fatality numbers for excessive natural heat, natural hazards, and air pressure changes in particular. Out of a total of 9259 weather-related fatalities (with a mean annual rate of 89.0 fatalities), 74.9 % were caused by excessive natural cold and 19.3 % by lightning. No trend was identified in natural hazards, whilst statistically significant decreasing trends were found for lightning fatalities and increasing trends for excessive natural cold, excessive natural heat, and falls on ice or snow. Males and seniors aged ≥65 years were the most common sex and age categories affected. The number of fatalities attributed to excessive natural cold has partly increased as a result of the gradually ageing population and the rise in the number of homeless people since the 1990s. A statistically significant relationship between cold-related fatalities and mean January–February and winter (December–February) temperatures was established, evidenced by high negative correlation coefficients. Lightning deaths have notably decreased since the 1970s, primarily due to a significant reduction in the number of people employed in agriculture, an increase in urban population, better weather forecasting, lifestyle changes, and improved medical care. Although there is a significant positive correlation between these fatalities and the number of days with thunderstorms, the relationship is relatively weak. The results obtained for the Czech Republic align well with similar studies in Europe and elsewhere. While the demographic yearbooks cover only a part of weather-related fatalities, their circumstances, and characteristics, combining them with other similar databases is crucial to gain the necessary knowledge usable in risk management for the preservation of human lives.

Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Children

Background: Pulmonary TB is a relatively common disease in developing countries including Iraq . A relatively small proportion (5–10%) of the approximately 2 billion people infected with M. tuberculosis worldwide will develop TB. Objective: To show the prevalence of T.B. among children in Abu-Ghraib city Patients and Methods: A descriptive retrospective center-based study in the Abu-Ghraib health sector (chest and respiratory disease unit) was conducted to show the distribution of TB in children ≤ 18 years from the 1st January 2001 till the 31st December 2020. Results: A total sample of 248 patients which represents 15.1% of all patients with TB in Abu-Ghraib (1642) from1st January 2001 till 31st December 2020. Female (152; 61.2%) and male (96; 38.8%). Most common age group affected was 13-18 years which represents 71.7% of patient. The prevalence of TB in Abu-Ghraib during the study period for children was (3.4/100,000). Conclusion: The prevalence of all forms of TB in Abu-Ghraib during the study period was (3.4/100000). Females were affected more than males with a mean of 6.7+/-1.5 Extra-pulmonary TB was found to be more common than pulmonary TB. Keywords: TB, Children, Epidemiology, Iraq

Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Children

Background: Pulmonary TB is a relatively common disease in developing countries including Iraq . A relatively small proportion (5–10%) of the approximately 2 billion people infected with M. tuberculosis worldwide will develop TB. Objective: To show the prevalence of T.B. among children in Abu-Ghraib city Patients and Methods: A descriptive retrospective center-based study in the Abu-Ghraib health sector (chest and respiratory disease unit) was conducted to show the distribution of TB in children ≤ 18 years from the 1st January 2001 till the 31st December 2020. Results: A total sample of 248 patients which represents 15.1% of all patients with TB in Abu-Ghraib (1642) from1st January 2001 till 31st December 2020. Female (152; 61.2%) and male (96; 38.8%). Most common age group affected was 13-18 years which represents 71.7% of patient. The prevalence of TB in Abu-Ghraib during the study period for children was (3.4/100,000). Conclusion: The prevalence of all forms of TB in Abu-Ghraib during the study period was (3.4/100000). Females were affected more than males with a mean of 6.7+/-1.5 Extra-pulmonary TB was found to be more common than pulmonary TB.

E015 Importance of smoking cessation in rheumatological outcomes

Abstract Background/Aims Smoking is a major preventable risk factor for many rheumatological diseases and can influence the severity of symptoms in conditions such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis, giant cell arteritis (GCA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The increased risk due to smoking is dose dependent. The objective was to identify the proportion of patients with rheumatological conditions who smoke and to ensure that smoking cessation advice is given in line with NICE guidelines. Methods A retrospective qualitative study with data collected from electronic patient records (EPR) between September and November 2022 across multiple rheumatology clinics. Data included age, gender, smoking status, diagnosis, disease duration, comorbidities, treatment, and smoking advice status. Results 459 patients were analysed (68% female), of which 11% were smokers, 6% were ex-smokers, 83% were non-smokers, and 1 vapes regularly. Among the smokers, 72% were female. The median age was 61 years, with a range of 18-91 years. The commonest age range for all patients is 71-80 years, while the commonest age range among smokers was 41-50 years at 28%. The commonest disease duration among smokers is 1-5 years. The most common disease diagnosis among smokers were RA (30%), PsA (19%) and SLE (6%). Regarding disease activity among smokers, 36% had mild, 56% had moderate, and 8% had severe disease activity. Among the 12 patients with respiratory comorbidities; 6 had asthma, and 4 had COPD. Among the 21 patients with cardiovascular comorbidities; 13 had hypertension, and 6 had hypercholesterolaemia. For patients on cDMARDS, 26% were on methotrexate, 11% were on sulfasalazine, 9.4% were on hydroxychloroquine and 2% were on leflunomide. 13% were on prednisolone, while 7.5% had required methylprednisolone injections. 11% were on bDMARDs, most commonly adalimumab. Smoking cessation advice was documented in 4%, whereas 96% had no evidence of any smoking cessation advice. Conclusion This study illustrates the most common age range of smokers in this cohort was 41-50 years (28%), which was almost twice the equivalent national level (14.3% in 45-54 years). Nationally, the most common age range is 25-34 years (15.8%). Patients with rheumatological disease who smoked were of younger age compared to non-smokers, and smoking rates were higher in females compared to males. Smoking cessation advice was only documented in 4% of this cohort. This indicates much scope for improvement, and enhanced disease control in a population with multiple challenges, primarily socioeconomically. VBA (Very Brief Advice) has been shown to be the single most effective and clinically proven preventive action a clinical can give to patients in relation to smoking cessation. The NCSCT (National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training) encourages the 3A’s (ASK, ADVICE, ACT). Disclosure M. Osikoya-Yekini: None. W. Walshe: None. A. Bharadwaj: None. A. Nandagudi: None.

An Investigation of Keratoplasty Procedures and Their Outcomes in Iraq

Introduction: The treatment of corneal disorders involves the use of various forms of keratoplasty. The objective of this study was to provide a detailed description of the various types of keratoplasty procedures performed in Iraq, as well as their corresponding outcomes.&#x0D; Methods: An observational study was conducted at Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital to document cases of keratoplasty. The collected data included age, gender, types of keratoplasty, indications, previous surgical or medical history, and postoperative outcomes. The types of keratoplasty included penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Additionally, we performed cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) insertion for those with cataracts, using either IOLs with scleral fixation or IOLs with iris fixation. We complete the task on the first day following the purchase order, then the first week, the first month, and every six months thereafter. Prior to surgery, patients with corneal vascularization had laser photocoagulation of the blood vessels in the cornea.&#x0D; Results: Ages range from 4 to 90. People over 40 (60.8%) were the most common age group. The female prevalence was 52.9%. Right-eye illness was diagnosed 51.6% of the time. 60% of patients underwent PKP. 26.8% had DALK, 12.4% had DSEK. Post keratoplasty, the statistically-significant improvement-ratio was 68.5% as eyes best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement, while 12.2% of eyes showed a decline in BCVA and 19.3% discharged with no changes in BCVA. Postoperatively, BCVA was significantly lower in cases with a duration below 1 year (1.5), and better among the duration &gt; 3 years (0.5). The greatest improvements were seen in cases with infective keratitis (-0.7), corneal dystrophies (-0.6), and advanced keratoconus (-0.7) whereas the lowest rates were documented in cases with a graft rejection (-0.3), and bullous keratopathy (-0.3)&#x0D; Conclusion: Keratoplasty is associated with a substantial enhancement of visual acuity in the younger population. Infective keratitis, keratoconus, and corneal dystrophy produce the most optimal and superior results. The PKP method is the most frequently performed.