Single-center Cross-sectional Study Research Articles

A Cross-Sectional Study on Whether Comprehensively Gathering Information From Medical Records Is Useful for the Collection of Operational Characteristics.

This study tests whether comprehensively gathering information from medical records is useful for developing clinical decision support systems using Bayes' theorem. Using a single-center cross-sectional study, we retrospectively extracted medical records of 270 patients aged ≥16 years who visited the emergency room at the Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center with a chief complaint of experiencing headaches. The medical records of cases were analyzed in this study. We manually extracted diagnoses, unique keywords, and annotated keywords, classifying them as either positive or negative. Cross tables were created, and the proportion of combinations for which the likelihood ratios could be calculated was evaluated. Probability functions for the appearance of new unique keywords were modeled, and theoretical values were calculated. We extracted 623 unique keywords, 26 diagnoses, and 6,904 annotated keywords. Likelihood ratios could be calculated only for 276 combinations (1.70%), of which 24 (0.15%) exhibited significant differences. The power function+constant was the best fit for new unique keywords. The increase in the number of combinations after increasing the number of cases indicated that while it is theoretically possible to comprehensively gather information from medical records in this way, doing so presents difficulties related to human costs. It also does not necessarily solve the fundamental issues with medical informatics or with developing clinical decision support systems. Therefore, we recommend using methods other than comprehensive information gathering with Bayes' theorem as the classifier to develop such systems.

Association between admission serum potassium concentration and the island sign on cranial CT in HICH patients: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to explore the correlation between serum potassium (K+) concentration upon admission and the presence of the Island Sign (IS) in cranial CT scans of patients diagnosed with Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage (HICH), including the potential presence of a non-linear relationship. This investigation constituted a single-center cross-sectional study. We systematically gathered comprehensive general clinical characteristics, biological indicators, and imaging data from a cohort of 330 patients diagnosed with HICH. These patients received treatment within the neurosurgery department of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center during the period spanning from July 1, 2018, to July 7, 2023. Our primary objective was to scrutinize the potential connection between serum K+ concentration upon admission and the presence of the IS observed in cranial CT scans. To meticulously address this inquiry, we employed logistic regression modeling, thereby meticulously evaluating the correlation aforementioned. Moreover, in order to delve deeper into the intricacies of the relationship, we extended our analysis by employing a smoothed curve-fitting model to meticulously authenticate the potential non-linear interrelation between these two critical variables. In this investigation, a total of 330 patients diagnosed with HICH were ultimately enrolled, exhibiting an average age of 58.4 ± 13.1 years, comprising 238 (72.1%) males and 92 (27.9%) females. Among these participants, 118 individuals (35.7%) presented with the IS upon admission cranial CT scans, while 212 patients (64.3%) did not exhibit this characteristic. Upon comprehensive multifactorial adjustments, a non-linear association was uncovered between serum K+ concentration and the presence of IS. Notably, an inflection point was identified at approximately 3.54 mmol/L for serum K+ concentration. Prior to the patient's serum K+ concentration reaching around 3.54 mmol/L upon admission, a discernible trend was observed-every 0.1 mmol/L increment in serum K+ concentration was associated with an 8% decrease in the incidence of IS (OR: 0.914, 95% CI: 0.849-0.983, p = 0.015). The findings of this study underscore a negative association between reduced serum K+ concentration upon admission and the occurrence of the IS on cranial CT scans among patients diagnosed with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Furthermore, this negative correlation appears to manifest within the realm of a non-linear relationship. This study elucidates the potential significance of serum K+ concentration levels among patients with HICH, highlighting the role they play. Moreover, the maintenance of a physiological equilibrium in serum K+ concentrations emerges as a conceivable protective factor for individuals within the stroke population.

Time In Tight Range in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A cross-sectional observational single centre study evaluating efficacy of new advanced technologies.

Early and tight glycaemic control is crucial to prevent long-term complications of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). The aim of our study was to compare glucose metrics, including Time In Tight Range (TITR), in a real-world setting. We performed a single-centre cross-sectional study in 534 children and adolescents with T1D. Participants were divided into four groups (multiple daily injections+real-time Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), multiple daily injections+intermittently scanned CGM, sensor augmented pump (SAP), and Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop (AHCL). Demographical and clinical data were collected and analysed. The group with AHCL showed significantly higher Time In Range (TIR) (71.31%±10.88) than SAP (57.82%±14.98; p<0.001), MDI+rtCGM (54.56%±17.04; p<0.001) and MDI+isCGM (52.17%±19.36; p<0.001) groups with a lower Time Above Range (p<0.001). The group with AHCL also showed lower Time Below Range than MDI+isCGM and SAP groups (p<0.01). The overall TITR was 37%±14 with 19% of participants who reached a TITR ≥50% with a mean TIR of 81%. AHCL had significantly higher TITR (45.46%±11.77) than SAP (36.25%±13.53; p<0.001), MDI+rtCGM (34.03%±13.89; p<0.001) and MDI+isCGM (33.37%±15.84; p<0.001) groups with a lower Coefficient of Variation (p<0.001). Our study indicates that AHCL ensures a better glycaemic control with an improvement in both TIR and TITR, along with a reduction in CV. Implementation of automated insulin delivery systems should be considered in the treatment of children and adolescents with T1D.

Correlation between ultrasonographic and cytologic features of thyroid nodules: a single-center cross-sectional study.

A thyroid nodule is managed according to the clinical context, ultrasound (US) findings, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) results. Most thyroid nodules are benign; however, nodule classification is crucial to avoid unnecessary thyroid surgery. We conducted this study to compare the findings of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) expressed using the Bethesda system with the features of thyroid US classified using the EU-TIRADS classification to assess the risk of malignancy. A descriptive and analytical study involving 99 patients with thyroid nodules followed up in the Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology and Nutrition. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using SPSS software V21. FNA was performed on 121 nodules using the BETHESDA system. These nodules were classified as malignant, suspicious for follicular neoplasm, and suspicious for malignancy in 5.8%, 5%, and 1.7% of cases, respectively. As for the EU-TIRADS 2017 classification, 59.5% of benign nodules were classified as EU-TIRADS III, whereas 66.7% of malignant nodules were classified as EU-TIRADS V and significantly related to malignant prediction (P = 0.000). The size of nodules was significantly correlated to the risk of malignancy (P = 0.013). Seventy-five percent of nodules with central vascularity were malignant (P = 0.012). Irregularity of nodule contours was significantly associated with the risk of malignancy, as 30% of nodules with irregular contours were Bethesda VI (P = 0.003). Hypoechogenicity was found in 77.8% of malignant nodules (P = 0.004). Additionally, only 9.2% of the nodules were taller than wide, of which 37.5% were malignant (P = 0.012). For a safe management strategy, US-guided FNAC should be performed on each suspicious thyroid nodule, given the correlation between EU-TIRADS classification features and the risk of malignancy.

Examining adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF post-cardiac surgery: A single-center cross-sectional study

Examining adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF post-cardiac surgery: A single-center cross-sectional study

Personality interferences in the pathology of breast cancer: a cross-sectional single-center study.

Individual personality refers to the Ego and the interpersonal sector. The Ego corresponds to consciousness and self-esteem, including the capacities for emotional self-regulation, self-control, self-evaluation, and self-direction in relation to personal goals. When neoplastic and psychiatric diseases coexist, a patient's quality of life is significantly impacted. While there are somatic differences in disease progression, how the illness is perceived and mainly experienced depends on personality traits. In this study, we administered the DECAS Personality Inventory (a Romanian-validated instrument based on the Five-Factor model of personality) to a group of 121 patients diagnosed with breast cancer to explore the relationships among their personality traits. Descriptive statistics revealed that the mean T scores for openness, extroversion, and emotional stability were low, while the scores for conscientiousness and agreeableness were at an average level. Our findings suggest that, in the studied group, low levels of emotional stability, extroversion, and openness were unfavorable personality dimensions that should be a primary focus of therapeutic strategies, as they significantly affect the quality of life in patients with breast cancer.

The Impact of Training in Multimodal Communication Skills on Psychotropic Medication Use in Dementia Care.

Aim This study aimed to assess the trends in psychotropic drug prescriptions among elderly residents with dementia following the continuous implementation of multimodal comprehensive care communication skills training for staff in a long-term care facility. Methods This retrospective single-center cross-sectional study utilized the database of an urban public hospital that included a long-term care facility. The data were collected from 2016 to 2020. All 130 staff members at the hospital (52 nurses, 48 professional caregivers, seven rehabilitation staff members, three physicians, and three pharmacists) initiated multimodal comprehensive care communication skills basic training from October 2014 to December 2015, which was followed by continuous monthly training until the end of 2020. Antipsychotic prescription rates for residents aged over 65 years with dementia were measured throughout the study period. Results A total of 506 eligible residents were identified, the median age was 86.0 years (IQR: 81.0-90.0), and 283 (55.9%) residents were females. The prescription rates for psychotropic drugs among residents with dementia decreased significantly (43.5% in 2016, 27.0% in 2020; p=0.01). Notably, the percentage of patients prescribed anxiolytics decreased significantly (from 4.7% to 0.0%), while the percentage of patients receiving antipsychotic drugs, hypnotics, antidepressants, or antiepileptic drugs remained unchanged over time. The prescription rates for antidementia drugs significantly decreased from 15.3% to 4.0%. Conclusion The prescription rates of psychotropic drugs were significantly reduced following multimodal comprehensive care communication skills training for staff at a long-term care facility. The improvement in communication skills among staff at long-term care facilities has a tangible impact on reducing drug use among elderly residents with dementia.

Impact of oxidative stress on myocardial performance in patients with diabetes: a focus on subclinical left ventricular dysfunction

IntroductionOxidative stress is known to affect left ventricular functions negatively. There is a strong bidirectional connection between diabetes mellitus (DM) and oxidative stress. In parallel, left ventricular dysfunction is observed...

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with Turner syndrome: A single centre experience.

Many women with Turner syndrome (TS) will consider fertility options and pregnancy. We wished to examine the fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with TS undergoing oocyte donation (OD) treatment or spontaneous pregnancy in a large single-centre cohort. General population reference dataor data from those with idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiencywere used as comparators. A retrospective single-centre cross-sectional study. Seventy-four women with TS underwent OD treatment with a total of 105 pregnancies, and 31 women with TS had 71 spontaneous conceptions. Fertility outcomes included clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. Pregnancy outcomes included miscarriage rate, prevalence of hypertension, gestational diabetes, lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), small for gestational age (SGA), prematurity and vertical transmission of TS. In those with TS, OD pregnancies were associated with increased rates of LSCS and SGA compared to spontaneous pregnancies; LSCS (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.6-10.8,p = .003) and SGA (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.02-8.38,p = .04). There were no recorded cardiac events but 5 (17.2%) cases of vertical transmissions of TS in daughters were identified. OD in those with TS was associated with a lower live birth rate per cycle started (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34-0.84,p = .008) and a higher rate of miscarriage compared to women with POI (40% vs. 26.2%,p = .04). We show that pregnancy in women with TS, whether OD or spontaneously conceived, carries obstetric risks, and therefore, women with TS, considering pregnancy, should receive comprehensive pre-pregnancy counselling and optimal obstetric care.

Diagnostic Accuracy of American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting Data System: A Single-center Cross-sectional Study.

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting Data System (ACR TI-RADS) in identifying nodules that need to undergo fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and identify specific thyroid ultrasound characteristics of nodules associated with thyroid malignancy in Filipinos in a single tertiary center. One hundred seventy-six thyroid nodules from 130 patients who underwent FNAB from January 2018 to December 2018 were included. The sonographic features were described and scored using the ACR TI-RADS risk classification system, and the score was correlated to their final cytopathology results. The calculated malignancy rates for TI-RADS 2 to TI-RADS 5 were 0%, 3.13%, 7.14%, and 38.23%, respectively, which were within the TI-RADS risk stratification thresholds. The ACR TI-RADS had a sensitivity of 89.5% and specificity of 54%, LR + of 1.95 and LR - of 0.194, NPV of 97.7%, PPV of 19.1%, and accuracy of 58%. The ACR TI-RADS may provide an effective malignancy risk stratification for thyroid nodules and may help guide the decision for FNAB among Filipino patients. The classification system may decrease the number of unnecessary FNABs for nodules with low-risk scores.

#52 Pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients: prevalence and risk factors: a single center study

Abstract Background and Aims Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an underestimated cardiovascular trouble in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Therefore, we studied its prevalence, risk factors, association with inflammation, and cardiac changes in HD patients. Method This was a single-center cross-sectional observational study conducted at Sfax CNSS polyclinic hemodialysis center during October 2023. Patients on hemodialysis for at least three months were included and divided into those with and without PH; patients with secondary causes for PH were excluded. Clinical characteristics, HD-related factors, lab parameters, and echocardiography details were compared. PH was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of &amp;gt; 25 mmHg at rest, and it was further divided as mild (26–39 mmHg), moderate (40–60mmHg), and severe (&amp;gt; 60 mmHg). Mean levels of PAP were compared in different groups according to the main clinical parameters. Results Of 30 patients, 21 patients had PH (mild:15, moderate:4, and two had severe PH) with a prevalence of 70%, and a mean age of 58 years old. No difference was found in clinical characteristics, dialysis-related factors, and biochemical parameters. Inflammation seemed to be more important in the PH group but the difference was not statistically significant (mean C-reactive protein in the PH group vs. 5,69 in the non-PH group; p=0,34). Otherwise, according to echocardiography findings, PAP was significantly higher in patients with left ventricular failure(HF) (mean PAP in HF group vs. 31,12 in the non-HF group; p=0,011), in patients with right ventricular dilation(RVD)(mean PAP in RVD patients=47,83mmHg vs 28,88mmHg in the non-RVD group; p=0,05) and in patients with mitral regurgitation(MR) (mean PAP in MR group=40,18mmHg Vs 28,32mmHg in the non-MR group; p=0,04). Conclusion Haemodialysis patients have a high prevalence of PH, especially in patients with heart failure and ventricular dilation. PH was significantly associated with the presence of mitral regurgitation on echocardiography. Inflammation was slightly higher in PH but our study did not find significant differences in traditional risk factors, and HD-related factors between the groups with and without PH.

#662 Characterization of novel gene mutation sites associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease on 19 chromosomes

Abstract Background and Aims Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common single-gene inherited kidney disorder, affecting approximately 1 in 500-1000 newborns and often leading to end-stage renal disease. It involves cyst formation in various organs, with renal manifestations including cysts, hematuria, kidney stones, proteinuria, and hypertension. Liver, pancreas, seminal vesicles, spleen, and intracranial aneurysms may also be affected. Genetic diagnosis, particularly for patients without a family history or with atypical imaging, is considered the gold standard. ADPKD is associated with several pathogenic genes, such as PKD1 and PKD2, as well as others like HNF-1B, GANAB, DNAJB11, SEC63, ALG8, ALG9, PRKCSH, LRP5, SEC61B, and SEC63. Understanding the genetic basis is crucial for early diagnosis and identifying high-risk individuals. This study, based on genetic data from patients with renal polycystic kidney disease at Zhong Da Hospital Southeast University, identified novel ADPKD gene mutations. It explored structural changes in proteins, predicting effects on phenotype, to contribute to the enrichment of the ADPKD gene database. Method In a single-center cross-sectional retrospective study, patients with renal multiple cysts diagnosed from January 2019 to February 2023 at the Zhong Da Hospital Southeast University were included. Genetic and clinical data of patients and their families were collected. Unreported novel gene mutation sites associated with ADPKD were identified, and AlphaFold v2.3.1 was employed to predict protein structures. Changes in protein structure before and after mutations were compared to explore genotype-phenotype correlations and enrich the ADPKD gene database. Results The study included 96 patients with renal multiple cysts and their relatives from 62 families. Twelve mutated genes associated with renal cysts were detected in 52 families. Nineteen novel gene mutation sites associated with ADPKD were identified (Table 1, Fig. 1) , including 17 mutations in the PKD1 gene (1 splicing mutation, 7 frameshift mutations, 4 nonsense mutations, 1 whole-codon insertion, and 4 missense mutations), 1 ALG9 missense mutation, and 1 chromosomal structural variation. Truncating mutations in the PKD1 gene were correlated with a more severe clinical phenotype, while non-truncating mutations were associated with greater clinical heterogeneity. Conclusion Numerous novel gene mutation sites associated with ADPKD remain unreported. It is essential to analyze the pathogenicity of these novel mutation sites, establish genotype-phenotype correlations, and enrich the ADPKD gene database.

#2225 Educational level and gender are associated with emotional well-being in a cohort of Dutch dialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Patients undergoing dialysis have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). There are conflicting data from small series whether patient-related factors such as educational level have an impact on experienced HRQOL. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between educational level and HRQOL in dialysis patients. Method In a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study HRQOL was measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form-36 (KDQOL-SF36) in prevalent chronic dialysis patients. Educational level was categorized into low, intermediate and high subgroups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of age, gender, ethnicity, and dialysis vintage on the association between HRQOL and educational level. Results 129 chronic dialysis patients were included. The median age of the patients was 65.0 years and 58% of the patients were male. The median age did not differ between men and women (67.0 vs. 63.0 years, p = 0.673). Median dialysis vintage was 15.0 months. Patients with an intermediate educational level (OR: 4.37 [1.89-10.13]) and a high educational level (OR 4.13 [1.04-16.42]) had significantly higher odds of higher emotional well-being than patients with a low educational level. The odds for women compared to men were 2.83 [1.32-6.06] for better general health and 2.59 [1.15-5.84] for emotional well-being. There was no interaction between gender and educational level for both subdomains. Each year of increasing age was associated with decreased physical functioning (OR 0.94 [0.91–0.97]). Conclusion Low educational level and male sex were associated with worse emotional well-being compared to intermediate and high educational level and female sex in dialysis patients. Physical functioning decreased with increasing age.

#2253 The gender influence on peritoneal membrane transport

Abstract Background and Aims The classification of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients based on their peritoneal transport was introduced by Twardowski in 1987, analysing a cohort of 86 PD patients, where gender was not specified. Method Aiming to analyze gender differences in the interpretation of peritoneal transport outcomes, we completed a single-center cross-sectional study of 143 incident patients in PD between 2015 and 2022. We also, assessed differences in their follow-up outcomes until PD cessation (21.2 ± 17 months). Results We analyzed 143 patients (55.3 ± 15.5 years, 92% hypertension, 25.5% diabetic, Charlson index 5.9 ± 2.4 points), corresponding to 85 men (M) and 58 women (W). M were older (M 56.4 ± 15.4 years vs. W 53.7 ± 15.7 years, NS) and associated higher comorbidity (hypertension M 95.8% vs. W 86.4%, p = 0.04 and diabetes M 33.7% vs. W 13.6%, P = 0.007, NS on Charlson index) compared to W. Creatinine transport in W is slower than in M (D/P Cr M 0.73 ± 0.1 vs W 0.69 ± 0.1, p = 0.017), but no differences in glucose transport were observed. Although most patients were classified as medium-high transporters, the percentage of M was significantly higher than W (H 71.1% vs M 52.6%). In our cohort, initial adequacy tests using incremental PD reveal that W have a higher total Kt/v (M 2.2 ± 0.5 vs W 2.8 ± 1.9, p = 0.021) attributed to a higher peritoneal Kt/v (M 0. 95 ± 0.41 vs. W 1.3 ± 1.1, p = 0.035) and renal Kt/v (NS). Despite W presented lower residual renal function (NS) and lower residual diuresis (H 1.5 ± 0.7 L vs. M 1.3 ± 0.6 L) compared with M. There was no gender difference in average duration of PD (M 22.4 vs. W 21.5 months). However, most W ended PD to receive a kidney transplant (46.8%), while most M transitioned to haemodialysis (41.3%). Nineteen patients died during follow-up, with 68.4% being M (NS). Conclusion Differences in D/P Cr and normal distribution curves between M and W suggest significant differences in peritoneal membrane transport. Classical methods of assess PD quality and adequacy may need to be corrected by gender, further studies are needed to determine these differences.

Educational level and gender are associated with emotional well-being in a cohort of Dutch dialysis patients

BackgroundPatients undergoing dialysis have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). There are conflicting data from small series on whether patient-related factors such as educational level have an impact on experienced HRQOL. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between educational level and HRQOL in dialysis patients.MethodsIn a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study HRQOL was measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form-36 (KDQOL-SF36) in prevalent chronic dialysis patients. Educational level was categorized into low, intermediate and high subgroups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of age, gender, ethnicity, and dialysis vintage on the association between HRQOL and educational level.ResultsOne hundred twenty-nine chronic dialysis patients were included. Patients with an intermediate educational level had significantly higher odds of a higher emotional well-being than patients with a low educational level 4.37 (1.-89–10.13).A similar trend was found for a high educational level (OR 4.13 (1.04–16.42), p = 0.044) The odds for women compared to men were 2.83 (1.32–6.06) for better general health and 2.59 (1.15–5,84) for emotional well-being. There was no interaction between gender and educational level for both subdomains. Each year of increasing age significantly decreased physical functioning (OR 0.94 (0.91–0.97)).ConclusionsEducational level and sex were associated with emotional well-being, since patients with intermediate and high educational level and females had better emotional well-being in comparison to patients with low educational level and males. Physical functioning decreased with increasing age.

Comparison of hematologic parameters as predictors of severity in COVID-19: A single-center cross-sectional study

COVID-19 disease was a global pandemic that marred humanity globally from 2019 end till early 2023. The diseases caused by the novel SARS cov2 virus had a wide array of presentations, from asymptomatic to mild illness to severe acute respiratory illness, with patients presenting with ‘happy hypoxia and sudden deterioration of clinical condition to multiorgan involvement and proven to be fatal in many cases. There was an effort to identify a point-of-care test to screen patients so as to predict the disease course; therefore, this study was designed to compare hematologic parameters to predict the severity of the disease. This study showed that TLC,dNLR, and NLR can be effectively used in diagnosing severe COVID-19.

Features of the biological development of schoolchildren in the Moscow region with different levels of health

BACKGROUND: The study of the health status of children and the dynamics of the physical and biological development of schoolchildren remains an urgent scientific issue both in our country and worldwide. The lifestyles of modern children and adolescents change based on regional standards for physical and biological development. AIM: To analyze the dynamics of puberty in modern schoolchildren depending on their health status and update biological development standards of schoolchildren in the Moscow region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the 2020s, an observational single-center cross-sectional study of the health status and physical and biological development of schoolchildren aged 12–16 years was performed in Moscow. Physical and biological development was assessed in each age and sex group according to standard methods using certified anthropometric instruments to measure height and weight. RESULTS: The study involved 508 schoolchildren with different levels of health, who were divided into groups 1 (n=107, 21.1%), 2 (n=208, 58.7%), and 3 (n=103, 20.2%). Diseases of the eye and its adnexal apparatus (24%) were prevalent functional abnormalities, and musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases were found in 20% of the sample. The level of biological development in groups 1 and 2 in comparison with group 3 did not differ significantly (р 0.05); however, later development of secondary sexual characteristics tended to occur in schoolchildren with chronic diseases. Significant (р=0.038) differences in the age at menarche in girls were found depending on the level of physical development. Thus, when developing standards for biological development, data of schoolchildren in groups 1 and 2 must be considered. CONCLUSION: The results of this study clearly demonstrated the prevalence of functional abnormalities and chronic diseases of various nosologies among schoolchildren in the Moscow region. The results of the study provided an update on the standards for the biological development of schoolchildren in Moscow.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Constipation Symptoms among Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms. It may compromise quality of life and social functioning and result in increased healthcare use and costs. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of constipation symptoms, as well as those of refractory constipation symptoms among patients who underwent colonoscopy. Methods: Over 4.5 years, patients who underwent colonoscopy and completed questionnaires were analyzed. Patients’ symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale. Results: Among 8,621 eligible patients, the prevalence of constipation symptoms was 33.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, p < 0.001), older age (OR 1.3, p < 0.001), cerebral stroke with paralysis (OR 1.7, p = 0.009), chronic renal failure (OR 2.6, p < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (OR 1.3, p = 0.008), diabetes (OR 1.4, p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.5, p = 0.002), benzodiazepine use (OR 1.7, p < 0.001), antiparkinsonian medications use (OR 1.9, p = 0.030), and opioid use (OR 2.1, p = 0.002) as independent risk factors for constipation symptoms. The number of patients taking any medication for constipation was 1,134 (13.2%); however, refractory symptoms of constipation were still present in 61.4% of these patients. Diabetes (OR 1.5, p = 0.028) and irritable bowel syndrome (OR 3.1, p < 0.001) were identified as predictors for refractory constipation symptoms. Conclusions: Constipation occurred in one-third of patients, and more than half of patients still exhibited refractory symptoms of constipation despite taking laxatives. Multiple medications and concurrent diseases seem to be associated with constipation symptoms.

Concomitant Cervical and Anal Screening for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – Worth the effort or waste of time?

Abstract Background Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection represents the most common sexually transmitted disease and a major risk factor for disease progression to anal cancer. Aims This study aimed to analyze the rate of concomitant anal dysplasia in a prospectively surveilled cohort of sexually active women. Methods This study represents a follow-up analysis of the AnusGynecology (ANGY) study (doi.org/10.3390/cancers14205096). This prospective, cross-sectional single-center study recruited women for concomitant cervical and anal screening of HPV genotypes and cytology during a single appointment. Cervical / anal smears +/- biopsies if deemed necessary were performed by board-certified specialists during a single outpatient visit. All women with findings of either HPV or any type of dysplastic lesions on anal smears were offered follow-up in a specialized high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) outpatient clinic. Results Overall, 275 patients (mean age 42±12) were included. Among them, 102 (37%) had cervical high risk (HR)-HPV. Anal smear cytology was performed in 255 patients (93%), while 19 patients (7%) underwent anal biopsy during the combined visit. In total, HPV was (incidentally) revealed in 91 patients (33%) on anal smears, while any degree of anal dysplasia was found in 30 patients (11%), 6 if which were high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (H-SIL). Furthermore, 10 out of 19 biopsies were positive (3 H-SIL lesions). Only half (48/93, 52%) of women agreed to undergo the recommended specialized follow-up evaluation. Of them, 18 (38%) were diagnosed with dysplastic lesions (9 L-SIL and H-SIL, respectively) on biopsies, while the remaining visits revealed no abnormalities. Conclusion The present study revealed a significant number of dysplastic lesions in women willing to undergo specialized proctologic evaluation after abnormal findings on initial screening. Close follow-up of these women is hence strongly recommended.

Conceptual differences about willingness of body donation among southern, eastern, central and northern population of India: Single centered approach

: Cadaveric dissection cannot be compensated by virtue table concepts or computerized learning aids. The present study was aimed to evaluate the conceptual differences and perceptional clarity about willingness of body donation relevant to regional practice among four inter-state population of India. The study objectives focused to assess the understanding level about general and special concepts and attitudes about body donation in Southern, Eastern, Central as well Northern parts of India and to compare differences about the concepts of understanding and willingness about body donation between four inter-state populations.A cross-sectional single center study with a differential rating scale questionnaire was conducted. Four hundred participants equally divided among four medical colleges of Southern, Eastern, Central and Northern India were the samples. All ethical principles for human research were followed. Completing a special course of ethical training and non-willingness to participate in the study were regarded as the criteria of a subject to get excluded from the study.The given questionnaire was completed by various participants from different zones: eastern, western, central and southern. We found significant difference in the educational level of the participants across various zones. Unsurprisingly, most likely due to the literacy rate, participants from the south are much more familiar with ‘body donation’ for research and education compared to participants from other three zones. Provisions to improve the body donation should concentrate on multi-directional tasks.