Current Use Research Articles

Antidepressant use and treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction among patients with major depressive disorder: Results from an internet-based survey study

BackgroundAntidepressants (ADs) are the mainstay of treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Insufficient efficacy of ADs and tolerability issues/side effects, such as treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction (TESD), can lead to treatment discontinuation, symptom persistence, and diminished quality of life. MethodsIn this cross-sectional, internet-based survey, patients with MDD (aged 18–64 years) treated with ADs were categorized as continuers, switchers, or discontinuers based on their current oral AD use and any prior oral AD use in the last 12 months. The Carelon Research Healthcare Integrated Research Database was used as a sampling frame to identify survey-eligible adult patients. The survey fielding was conducted from May 29–October 1, 2020. ResultsOverall, 900 patients completed the survey (554 [62%] continuers, 298 [33%] switchers, and 48 [5%] discontinuers). The 852 patients currently using ADs reported current use of 1178 ADs (mean: 1.4 AD per patient), while the 294 respondents who either switched or discontinued ADs reported using a total of 534 ADs in the past 12 months (mean: 1.8 AD per patient). Provider recommendations, treatment efficacy, and medication side effects played an important role in AD continuation, switching, or discontinuation. Furthermore, 19% of respondents (continuers and switchers) with no history of sexual problems reported sexual problems with use of at least one current or prior AD. LimitationsThe discontinuer cohort was small with few respondents; thus, the between-group statistical comparisons were limited. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the importance of patient-physician shared decision-making for MDD management, including minimization of side effects.

Lung cancer screening use among screening-eligible adults with disabilities.

Lung cancer screening (LCS) use among adults with disabilities has not been well characterized. We estimated the prevalence of LCS use by disability types and counts and investigated the association between disability counts and LCS utilization among LCS-eligible adults. We used cross-sectional data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Lung Cancer Screening Module. Based on the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force criteria for LCS, the sample included 4407 LCS-eligible adults, aged 55-79 years, with current or former (quit smoking in the past 15 years) tobacco use history of at least 30 pack-years. Disability types included limitations in hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self-care, and independent living. We also categorized respondents by number of disabilities (no disability, 1 disability, 2 disabilities, 3+ disabilities). We utilized descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine the association between disability counts and the receipt of LCS (yes/no) in the past 12 months. In 2019, 16.4% of LCS-eligible adults were screened for lung cancer. Overall, 49.6% of participants had no disability, and 14.5% had >3 disabilities. Mobility was the most prevalent disability type (35.4%), followed by cognitive impairment (18.2%) and hearing (16.6%). LCS was more prevalent in adults with disability in self-care versus no disability in self-care (24.0% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.01), disability in independent living versus no disability in independent living (22.2% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.02), and cognitive impairment disability versus no cognitive impairment (22.1% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.03). The prevalence rates of LCS among groups of LCS-eligible adults with different disability counts were not significant (p = 0.17). Despite the lack of clinical guidelines on LCS among individuals with disabilities, some individuals with disabilities are being screened for lung cancer. Future research should address this knowledge gap to determine clinical benefit versus harm of LCS among those with disabilities.

Age at first drink and its influence on alcohol use behaviours in young adulthood: Evidence from an Australian household-based panel study

BackgroundPublic health guidelines recommend delaying the initiation age for alcohol. However, the causal link between age-at-first-drink (AFD) and future alcohol use in young adulthood is uncertain. This study examined the association between AFD and alcohol-related outcomes at age 20 years using an Australian sample. MethodsData were obtained from Waves 1–19 (years 2001–2019) of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey on 20-year-olds with responses across ≥3 consecutive waves (n = 2278). The AFD for each respondent (between 15 and 20 years) was analysed relative to Australian legal drinking age (18 years). Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to evaluate associations between AFD and four outcomes at age 20 years: risk of current alcohol use; quantity of weekly alcohol consumption; risk of binge drinking; and frequency of binge drinking. Adjustments were made for confounders (e.g., heavy drinking by parents). Robustness of study findings was evaluated using several diagnostic tests/sensitivity analyses. ResultsAmong 20-year-olds, those with an AFD of 15–16 years consumed significantly more alcohol per week compared to an AFD of 18 years. Additionally, 20-year-old drinkers with an AFD of 16 years were significantly more likely to binge drink (though this association was likely confounded). An inverse dose-response relationship was observed between AFD and weekly alcohol consumption at 20 years, where a higher AFD led to lower alcohol consumption. ConclusionStudy findings indicate an association between a higher AFD and consuming less alcohol in young adulthood, which could potentially support the scale-up of prevention programs to delay AFD among Australian adolescents.

Initial evidence of the acute effect of electronic nicotine delivery system use on energy intake.

Previous work has aimed to disentangle the acute effects of nicotine and smoking on appetite with mixed findings. Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have yet to be examined in this regard despite evidence of use for weight control. The present study tested the influence of an ENDS on acute energy intake and associated subjective effects. Participants (n = 34; 18-65 years) with current ENDS use completed two randomly ordered clinical lab sessions after overnight abstinence from tobacco/nicotine/food/drinks (other than water). Sessions differed by the product administered over 20 min: active (20 puffs of a JUUL ENDS device; 5% nicotine tobacco-flavored pod) or control (access to an uncharged JUUL with an empty pod). About 40 min after product administration, participants were provided an ad lib buffet-style meal with 21 food/drink items. Subjective ratings were assessed at baseline, after product use, and before/after the meal. Energy intake (kcal) was calculated using pre-post buffet item weights. Repeated measures analyses of variance and pairwise comparisons were used to detect differences by condition and time (α < .05). Mean ± standard error of the mean energy intake did not differ significantly between active (1011.9 ± 98.8 kcal) and control (939.8 ± 88.4 kcal; p = .108) conditions. Nicotine abstinence symptoms significantly decreased after the active condition, while satiety significantly increased. Following the control condition, satiety remained constant while hunger significantly increased relative to baseline. Findings indicate that acute ENDS use did not significantly impact energy intake, but there was an ENDS-associated subjective increase in satiety and relative decrease in hunger. Results support further investigation of ENDS on appetite. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Dirt and Debt: The Racialization of Default in Brazil

Beginning in the early 2000s, policies and legislation aimed at financial inclusion drew millions of low-income Brazilians into the banking system for the first time. When many of these consumers were unable to keep up with credit card payments, they acquired a “dirty name”—the common expression in Brazil for default. An analysis of the historical origins and current use of this expression shows how it operates as a technology of racialization that legitimates forms of expropriation under financial capitalism. Drawing upon longstanding associations between Blackness and dirt in Brazil, the expression “dirty name” naturalizes inequalities while erasing alternative financial practices and relations in Brazil’s urban peripheries.

Perceptions of stigma among people with lived experience of methamphetamine use within the hospital setting: qualitative point-in-time interviews and thematic analyses of experiences.

As part of a larger mixed-methods study into harm reduction in the hospital setting and people with lived experience of methamphetamine use, stigma was found to be a prominent issue. The aim of this secondary analysis was to investigate the issue of stigma. Participants completed a one-time qualitative interview component to assess their experiences in the hospital setting. The study setting included secondary and tertiary care in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Participants who had received care from these settings were also recruited from an overdose prevention site, a primary healthcare center, a national mental health organization, an affordable housing agency, and six homeless-serving agencies between October 2020 and April 2021. A total of 104 individuals completed the qualitative component of a mixed-methods interview. Sixty-seven participants identified as male, thirty-six identified as female, and one identified as non-binary. Inclusion criteria included past or current use of methamphetamine, having received services from a hospital, and being able to communicate in English. Open-ended questions regarding experiences in the hospital setting were asked in relation to the lived experience of methamphetamine. A secondary analysis was conducted post-hoc using a thematic ethnographic approach due to prominent perceptions of stigma. Three themes were identified. The first theme identified that substance use was perceived as a moral and personal choice; the second theme pertained to social stigmas such as income, housing and substance use, and consequences such as being shunned or feeling less worthy than the general patient population; and the third theme highlighted health consequences such as inadequate treatment or pain management. This study revealed that stigma can have consequences that extend beyond the therapeutic relationship and into the healthcare of the individual. Additional training and education for healthcare providers represents a key intervention to ensure care is non-stigmatizing and patient-centered, as well as changing hospital culture.

Analysis of the Use of Korean Medicine Treatments among Children and Adolescents in South Korea: Analysis of Nationally Representative Sample.

Korean medicine (KM) is pivotal within South Korea's healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate the current use and determinants associated with KM among children and adolescents through an analysis of the 2019 Korea Health Panel Annual Data. Subjects were divided into two groups: the integrative medicine (IM) group, utilizing both KM and conventional medicine (CM) (n = 163), and the CM-only group (n = 1843) for the year 2019. Differences in various factors between the IM and CM groups were investigated using the chi-square test or t-tests. Moreover, binomial logistic regression was employed to ascertain factors influencing the choice of KM over exclusive CM utilization. The IM group had a higher mean age (p = 0.011) and annual household income (p < 0.001) compared to the CM group. The regression analysis indicated a significant association between the use of both KM and CM and being an adolescent (p = 0.011), residing in Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon (p = 0.017), living in Daejeon/Chungcheong/Sejong (p = 0.001), and belonging to the first income percentile (p = 0.002). Significant differences were observed in the KM usage patterns between the groups of children and adolescents. These insights could contribute to the development of strategies for the optimal allocation of medical resources within South Korea's distinctive medical framework.

To gel or not to gel – Tuning the sulfation pattern of carrageenans to expand their field of application

Carrageenans represent a major cell wall component of red macro algae and, as established gelling and thickening agents, they contribute significantly to a broad variety of commercial applications in the food and cosmetic industry. As a highly sulfated class of linear polysaccharides, their functional properties are strongly related to the sulfation pattern of their carrabiose repeating units. Therefore, the biocatalytic fine-tuning of these polymers by generating tailored sulfation architectures harnessing the hydrolytic activity of sulfatases could be a powerful tool to produce novel polymer structures with tuned properties to expand applications of carrageenans beyond their current use. To contribute to this vision, we sought to identify novel carrageenan sulfatases by studying several putative carrageenolytic clusters in marine heterotrophic bacteria. This approach revealed two novel formylglycine-dependent sulfatases from Cellulophaga algicola DSM 14237 and Cellulophaga baltica DSM 24729 with promiscuous hydrolytic activity towards the sulfated galactose in the industrially established ι- and κ-carrageenan, converting them into α- and β-carrageenan, respectively, and enabling the production of a variety of novel pure and hybrid carrageenans. The rheological analysis of these enzymatically generated structures revealed significantly altered physicochemical properties that may open the gate to a variety of novel carrageenan-based applications.

Correlates of using E-cigarettes with high nicotine concentrations among U.S. adults who exclusively vape E-cigarettes or dual use with cigarettes

BackgroundIdentifying the correlates of using e-cigarettes with high nicotine concentrations in exclusive and dual-using vapers can elucidate which subpopulations might be most impacted by e-cigarette regulatory activities related to nicotine concentration. MethodsData are drawn from Wave 5 (December 2018-November 2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. Self-reported nicotine concentration was grouped as high (5.0 %+), moderate (1.8–4.9 %), low (0.1–1.7 %), 0 %, and “I don’t know.” Multivariable logistic regressions estimated associations of sociodemographic factors, tobacco use status, and e-cigarette use patterns of high nicotine concentration vs. other nicotine levels, stratified by current exclusive e-cigarette use and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. ResultsIn the study samples (exclusive e-cigarette use [n = 1,755], dual-use [n = 1,200]), higher proportions of exclusive e-cigarette users reported using high nicotine concentrations than dual users (18.3 % vs. 8.6 %). Among exclusive e-cigarette users, never vs. former smokers and daily (vs. someday) e-cigarette users were more likely to use high vs. low nicotine. In both exclusive and dual users, younger (vs. older) adults were more likely to report using high nicotine concentration e-cigarettes than most other nicotine levels. Current dual users who did vs. did not report using e-cigarettes to quit smoking had higher odds of using high vs. 0 % nicotine concentrations. ConclusionsHigh-nicotine e-cigarette use might be elevated in subpopulations that face greater risks for vaping (e.g., never smokers, young adults) than groups who benefit from the potential harm reduction. Regulatory restrictions on high-nicotine products may selectively affect some subgroups adversely impacted by vaping.

Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Abstract Trait‐based approaches have received increasing interest among freshwater scientists given their capacity to predict community structure and biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. However, the inconsistent development and use of trait concepts and terms across freshwater scientific disciplines may have limited realisation of the potential of traits. Here, we reviewed trait definitions and terms use to provide recommendations for their consistent application in freshwater science. To do so, we first reviewed literature to identify established trait definitions, historical and current use of trait terms and challenges restricting the application of trait‐based approaches in freshwater science. Next, we surveyed 414 freshwater researchers from 54 countries to assess variability in the current use of trait terminology in relation to respondent characteristics (i.e., professional experience, geographical region, research discipline, and focal freshwater ecosystem, biotic group, and ecosystem function). Our literature review identified two well‐established trait definitions, which emphasise individual phenotypic characteristics that influence either eco‐evolutionary aspects (i.e., organism performance and fitness) or ecosystem dynamics and processes (i.e., responses to the environment and/or effects on ecosystem functioning). Publications used a range of trait‐related terms and their frequency of use varied among scientific fields. The term functional trait dominated fields such as biodiversity conservation, environmental sciences and ecology, plant sciences and microbiology. In contrast, the terms biological trait, functional trait, and species trait were used with similar frequencies in fields such as entomology, fisheries, marine and freshwater biology, and zoology. We also found that well‐established trait definitions are difficult to apply to freshwater unicellular organisms, colonial multicellular organisms, genomic information, and cultural traits. Our survey revealed highly inconsistent use of trait terms among freshwater researchers. Terms including biological trait, functional trait, structural measure, and ecosystem function were commonly used to describe the same traits or functions. Variability in the use of terms was generally explained by research discipline, geographical region, and focal biotic group and ecosystem functions. We propose making the trait concept flexible enough to be applicable to all freshwater biota and their characteristics, while keeping and integrating links to eco‐evolutionary and ecosystem aspects. Specifically, our new definition expands the established functional trait definition by considering also supra‐individual scales of trait measurement (colonial‐ or community‐mean traits), genotypic traits (e.g., functional gene markers of enzymes) and cultural traits (e.g., feeding behaviours, communication skills). To reduce terminological ambiguity, we also recommend that researchers define trait terms, prioritising the use of functional trait as an overarching term over alternative terms (e.g., biological trait), and restricting specific terms (e.g., morphological trait) to situations in which such precision is desirable. The findings of our integrative study could help to improve terminological consistency across freshwater disciplines and to better recognise the potential of traits to elucidate the mechanisms behind ecological patterns.

Widespread contamination of soils and vegetation with current use pesticide residues along altitudinal gradients in a European Alpine valley

Pesticides are transferred outside of cropland and can affect animals and plants. Here we investigated the distribution of 97 current use pesticides in soil and vegetation as central exposure matrices of insects. Sampling was conducted on 53 sites along eleven altitudinal transects in the Vinschgau valley (South Tyrol, Italy), in Europe’s largest apple growing area. A total of 27 pesticides (10 insecticides, 11 fungicides and 6 herbicides) were detected, originating mostly from apple orchards. Residue numbers and concentrations decreased with altitude and distance to orchards, but were even detected at the highest sites. Predictive, detection-based mapping indicates that pesticide mixtures can occur anywhere from the valley floor to mountain peaks. This study demonstrates widespread pesticide contamination of Alpine environments, creating contaminated landscapes. As residue mixtures have been detected in remote alpine ecosystems and conservation areas, we call for a reduction of pesticide use to prevent further contamination and loss of biodiversity.

Determination of suitable agricultural areas and current land use in Isparta Province, Türkiye, through a linear combination technique and geographic information systems

AbstractSustainable land use is vital for the increasing population’s food supply and global food security. The use of the soils in the world for agricultural purposes makes a significant contribution to both national and international food supply, while the remaining plays a crucial role in maintaining forested and semi-natural ecosystems. For this reason, it is important to determine suitable agricultural areas. Soils in the study area are used for agricultural areas at 27.49%, while 63.17% are designated for forest and semi-natural areas. This study’s aim is to locate suitable agricultural areas in the semiarid Isparta province using the linear combination technique (LCT), a multi-criteria analysis method that uses topographic data and national soil data. The weights of the parameters were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The agricultural land suitability map generated by LCT was divided into five categories according to the land suitability classification determined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It has been determined that 39.52% of the study area is for highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), and marginally suitable (S3) classes in the map of suitable agricultural areas using LCT. It is determined that 3991.24 ha of land in the S1 class, which shows the highly suitable areas for agriculture in the study area, was used as artificial surfaces. The results showed that the misuse of suitable agricultural lands increased in the study area. It was determined that artificial areas are expanding into agricultural areas, according to the CLC 2018 database. It shows that soil survey and mapping studies should be carried out according to soil classification systems such as Soil Taxonomy 2022, Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS), and World Reference Base (WRB) 2022, for the determination and use of suitable agricultural lands in Türkiye.

Prevalence, lived experiences and user profiles in e-cigarette use: A mixed methods study among French college students.

Little is known about e-cigarette use in French students. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette experimentation and current e-cigarette use; describe the reasons for using e-cigarettes; explore the vaping experience and identify the profiles of e-cigarette users. We used a sequential, explanatory mixed methods design in a sample of French college students. Quantitative data was collected online for a cross-sectional analysis among 1698 students. Two separate analysis based on the thematic analysis and the Grounded Theory were also performed in 20 semi-structured interviews, focusing former and current smokers also current vapers. The prevalence of e-cigarette experimentation was 39.3% (95% CI: 35.2-44.0) and 5.1% (95% CI: 3.2-8.0) of students were current e-cigarette users. Experimentation was opportunistic while current usage was rational, requiring to acquire a personal electronic device, getting used to its technicality, appreciating its availability, discretion, and learning the practice. In this context, three distinct groups of e-cigarette users were identified, based on assumed identity, tobacco and e-cigarette use, the functions assigned to e-cigarettes, and intentions with regards to vaping in the future. Despite some limitations mainly related to the participants self-selection, this research showed that while many smokers and former smokers have tried e-cigarettes in this student population, few have continued to use them continuously. Moreover, these current e-cigarette users were a heterogeneous group. Longitudinal studies are needed in young adult smokers for a better understanding of how their tobacco and e-cigarette use affect each other and change over time.

Khat chewing habit among high school students in Kabridahar City of Somali regional state, Ethiopia: prevalence and determining factors

ABSTRACT Background & Objective Khat has been used by about 10 million people in Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Several epidemiological studies highlighted the adverse health and social problems associated with excessive khat use. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of khat use in secondary schools in Kabridahar where the use of khat is widely seen as problematic. Methods and Materials We conducted a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 251 children from three secondary schools in Kabridahar, Somali region of Ethiopia. We used demographic and khat questionnaires to collect data. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between variables. Result The study found a 16.7% lifetime prevalence of khat chewing and 8.4% current use among the secondary school children, respectively. Being a male student, having a smoking habit, befriending a khat chewer, having a family member who chews, and low level of literacy in the students’ responsible individual were found to be significantly associated with khat chewing habit among students. Conclusion The overall result of the present study indicates that the lifetime and current khat chewing prevalence were high for school children.

A multilevel intervention in pediatric primary care for youth tobacco control: Outcomes of implementing an Ask, Advise, and Connect model.

Multilevel interventions in healthcare settings (e.g. Ask, Advise, and Connect; AAC) can reduce tobacco product use among adult patients: their effectiveness in pediatric practice is largely unknown. We implemented an AAC model in pediatric primary care to deter children's tobacco use, and evaluated its effectiveness in a single-arm trial. At wellness visits, young patients (ages 12-17) completed a tablet-based assessment (Ask) of lifetime and current tobacco use. These data were made available within the electronic health record to pediatric primary care providers for preventive counseling (Advise). Providers then referred patients to an e-health evidence-based tobacco control intervention (Connect). Tobacco control outcomes were examined in the clinic population (N = 2219) and in a sample of patients (N = 388, 62% female, 39% non-White, M age = 15) over time, along with intervention engagement. Population use of tobacco products decreased following introduction of AAC (more than 2-fold). At the patient level, most children (80.9%) engaged with the intervention: those who were Black or African American, who never used tobacco products/were not susceptible to use, and who used fewer non-cigarette tobacco products were more likely to engage, but only after multiple prompts versus a single prompt. Engagement was positively associated with lowering children's susceptibility to using tobacco at follow-up. A pediatric AAC model holds promise in deterring youth tobacco use, including among historically marginalized populations who may require additional support.

Agent-based modelling of high-speed railway interdependent critical infrastructures facing physical and cyber threats

Globally, high-speed rail systems serve nearly 2 billion passenger-km daily. By virtue, they are a critical infrastructure like telecommunication and power networks. Accordingly, they become a catalyst for societal and economic growth stemming from the mobility business. The highspeed rail operations are very complex and interdependent, owing to the escalated demands for long-distance interconnected transportation. In recent years, there have been unreasonable delays for passengers as a new norm due to unfortunate train cancellations and relaxation of mobility performance requirements. Therefore, accurate measurements, monitoring and prediction of disruptive impacts and service performance metrices are indispensable. Within the scope of high-speed rail services, this paper examines how agent-based and multi-agent-based models are utilized to address such the challenges. Our findings reveal that the current use of agents or multi-agent models has some limitations for practical applications. Previous studies showed that mathematical methods to assess the resilience of critical infrastructures, railway scheduling, and vehicle dispatching can yield more satisfactory outcomes, although the approaches can be relatively time-consuming. In contrast, agent-based and multi-agent-based models can shorten processing time and uncover disruptive events more promptly. The paper thus showcases several emerging concepts, including i) the utilization of big data for crisis management, ii) interconnectivity analysis of high-speed rail infrastructures, and iii) enhancement of transport resilience. In addition, our findings identify the most influential agents and their possible applications to enhance systems resilience of highspeed rail networks when dealing with unforeseen physical and cyber threats.

Single-Item Instruments to Measure Aspects of Whole Person Care for an Inpatient Palliative Care Chaplain's Clinical Note: An Examination of Tools

As members of the palliative care team, chaplains’ clinical notes in the electronic health record reflect their encounters with patients. Along with their specialized spiritual assessment included within these notes, chaplains document whole-person aspects of the patient attending to such matters as quality of life. This article examines the psychometric properties of single-item instruments that could measure specific whole-person care components to be documented within a palliative care chaplain's clinical note. A literature search discovered three single-item tools, one related to patient-perceived quality of care and two addressing quality of life. While continued work is needed developing single-item measures, the quality of care question, “Heard and Understood,” and the quality of life question, “How satisfied are you currently with your physical and emotional well-being?,” show promise for current use. Additional investigations are needed to develop single-item measures contributing to comprehensive palliative patient care.

Study on the Impact of Depression on the Quality of Life of Patients With Psoriasis

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic condition with a strong impact on the daily life of patients, especially on relationship life. This paper aims to clarify the impact of depression on the quality of life of patients with moderate psoriasis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 16 participants with psoriasis from April to May 2023. Patients with psoriasis vulgaris completed self-administered questionnaires which include demographic characteristics, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI). Data were collected both physically, during periodic checks and online by email. Only 16 patients met the eligibility criteria for study entry. All patients included in the study had moderate psoriasis vulgaris. Exclusion criteria for participation in the study was: current use of psychotropic medications. severe comorbidities or chronic medical conditions and visual, auditory, linguistic, or cognitive impairments. Results: After completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) half of them 8 (50%) had a score lower than 8 (minimal depression) and the other half 8 (50%) between 8-16 (mild depression). 14 (87.5%) of the participants had a DLQI score of more than 10, indicating severe impairment in their quality of life. The results obtained showed a positive correlation between Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) andHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Conclusions: Depressive manifestations significantly influence the quality of life of psoriasis patients analyzed. A multidisciplinary approach in treating the patient with psoriasis is indispensable because it is not only necessary to manage a disease or a "case", but also to manage a patient.

The effects of saturated fat intake from dairy on CVD markers: the role of food matrices.

CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, and is commonly associated with modifiable risk factors. Most studies to date examining link between food intake and risk of CVD, have focused on modulation of plasma cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C). However, recent studies suggest LDL particle size is a more sensitive risk marker for CVD with smaller, dense LDL particles reported as more atherogenic than larger, more buoyant LDL. Although dietary guidelines recommend SFA intake of < 10 % of total energy, this does not consider food source, with recent evidence suggesting differing, sometimes beneficial, lipid responses following consumption of SFA from dairy compared to other food sources. This may be from differences in the physical food matrices, the nutrient content of the foods, and/or how these components interact with each other, described as a 'dairy matrix effect'. Dietary fat not only raises LDL-C, but also HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), associated with reduced CVD risk. HDL particles are complex emulsions of lipids, proteins and microRNAs that exhibit atheroprotective properties. In addition, HDL particles exhibit a very heterogeneous proteomic composition, dependent on a person's disease state - with a more pro-inflammatory proteome evident in patients with established CVD. This review will discuss the evidence to date on the importance of the food matrix in modulating response to dietary SFA and impact on CVD risk factors. A focus on potential biomarker properties of lipoprotein particles beyond cholesterol and current use of such biomarkers in human nutrition research will be considered.

Industrial sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to a sewershed in Ontario, Canada.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment despite global regulatory action to restrict their use in industrial processes and products. The objective of this reconnaissance sampling was to understand current industrial use and ongoing sources of PFAS in Ontario. Fourteen PFAS were analyzed in effluents from four sectors: electroplaters, laundry and carpet cleaners, landfills, and circuit board manufacturers that discharge to sewersheds connected to wastewater treatment plants. Maximum concentrations were detected in carpet cleaning wastewater: 79,000ng/L for perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), 26,000ng/L perfluorooctane sulfate (PFOS), and 9400ng/L perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Total summed PFAS (∑PFAS14) concentrations were highest in laundry and carpet cleaners > electroplaters > landfill leachate > circuit boarders. These results indicate that PFAS continue to be used in select manufacturing and processing facilities and that the elevated levels are associated with past and current uses in commercial products.