Male Deaths Research Articles

South Africa's male homicide epidemic hiding in plain sight: Exploring sex differences and patterns in homicide risk in a retrospective descriptive study of postmortem investigations.

South Africa has an overall homicide rate six times the global average. Males are predominantly the victims and perpetrators, but little is known about the male victims. For the country's first ever study on male homicide we compared 2017 male and female victim profiles for selected covariates, against global average and previous estimates for 2009. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of routine data collected through postmortem investigations, calculating age-standardised mortality rates for manner of death by age, sex and province and male-to-female incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals. We then used generalised linear models and linear regression models to assess the association between sex and victim characteristics including age and mechanism of injury (guns, sharp and blunt force) within and between years. 87% of 19,477 homicides in 2017 were males, equating to seven male deaths for every female, with sharp force and firearm discharge being the most common cause of death. Rates were higher among males than females at all ages, and up to eight times higher for the age group 15-44 years. Provincial rates varied overall and by sex, with the highest comparative risk for men vs. women in the Western Cape Province (11.4 males for every 1 female). Male homicides peaked during December and were highest during weekends, underscoring the prominent role of alcohol as a risk factor. There is a massive, disproportionate and enduring homicide risk among South African men which highlights their relative neglect in the country's prevention and policy responses. Only through challenging the normative perception of male invulnerability do we begin to address the enormous burden of violence impacting men. There is an urgent need to address the insidious effect of such societal norms alongside implementing structural interventions to overcome the root causes of poverty, inequality and better control alcohol and firearms.

Interpersonal Violence and Gender Inequality in Adolescents: A Systematic Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Data From 1990 to 2019

PurposeInterpersonal violence is a leading cause of adolescent deaths and disability. This study investigates sex differences in burden of interpersonal violence for adolescents and explores associations with gender inequality. MethodUsing data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, we report numbers, proportions, rates of interpersonal violence deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for all ages, and rate of change (from 1990 to 2019) in adolescents aged 10–24 years disaggregated by sex and geography. We explored associations with gender inequality using gender inequality index. ResultsOne in four (24.8%) all-age interpersonal violence deaths are in adolescents. In 2019, the rate of deaths in adolescent males was almost six times higher than females (9.3 vs. 1.6 per 100,000); and since 1990, the rate of decline in DALYs for females was double than that for males (−28.9% vs. −12.7%). By contrast, the burden of sexual violence is disproportionately borne by adolescent females, with over double the rate than males (DALYs: 42.8 vs. 17.5 per 100,000). In countries with greater gender inequality, the male-to-female ratio (deaths and DALYs) was increased among older adolescents, pointing to benefits for males in more gender equal settings. DiscussionSocial identities, relationships, and attitudes to violence are established in adolescence, which is an inflection point marking the emergence of disproportionate burdens of interpersonal violence. Our findings affirm that global agendas must be expanded to address interrelated factors driving multiple forms of interpersonal violence experienced by adolescents and reverberating to the next generation.

Sex differences in COVID-19 deaths in the early months of the pandemic in Canada: An examination with an immigration lens.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an overrepresentation of males in COVID-19 deaths worldwide, with Canada reporting more female COVID-19 deaths. This paper examines the overrepresentation of female COVID-19 deaths in Canada, with an immigration lens. Data were extracted from the COVID-19 Sex-Disaggregated Data Tracker to compare the sex distribution of COVID-19 deaths in Canada with that of other countries. A linkage of deaths to the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) allows for the comparison of sex-specific COVID-19 death rates by immigrant status for age and geography, as well as by major employment sector among immigrants, using the tax data from the IMDB. While there were proportionately more female than male COVID-19 deaths in Canada in the early months of the pandemic, this trend was mainly a phenomenon among non-immigrants aged 85 and older. In addition, COVID-19-specific death rates for males were higher than those for females across age groups by immigrant status, except for those aged 85 and older among the non-immigrant population. Among immigrants, the death rate among health care and social assistance workers was higher among males than among females (10.7 vs. 2.9 per 100,000 population). The initially observed overrepresentation of female COVID-19 deaths to male COVID-19 deaths in Canada evened out in the summer of 2021. The higher proportion of female COVID-19 deaths was likely related to the high concentration of COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities, where a lower institutionalization rate for immigrants had been observed. Since the implementation of vaccination targeting long-term care facility residents in Canada, the overrepresentation of female COVID-19 deaths ceased.

Lee–Carter model: assessing the potential to capture gender-related mortality dynamics

AbstractWe investigate the ability of the Lee–Carter model to effectively estimate the gender gap ratio (GGR), the ratio between the male death rates over the female ones, by using a Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) process to provide a stochastic representation of the fitting errors. The novelty consists in the fact that we use the parameters characterizing the CIR process itself (long-term mean and volatility), in their intrinsic meanings, as quantitative measures of the long-term fitting attitude of the Lee–Carter model and synthetic indicators of the overall risk of this model. The analysis encompasses 25 European countries, to provide evidence-based indications about the goodness of fit of the Lee–Carter model in describing the GGR evolution. We highlight some stylized facts, namely systematic evidence about the fitting bias and the risk of the model across ages and countries. Furthermore, we perform a functional cluster analysis, allowing to capture similarities in the fitting performance of the Lee–Carter model among countries.

A classifier model for prostate cancer diagnosis using CNNs and transfer learning with multi-parametric MRI.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major global concern, particularly for men, emphasizing the urgency of early detection to reduce mortality. As the second leading cause of cancer-related male deaths worldwide, precise and efficient diagnostic methods are crucial. Due to high and multiresolution MRI in PCa, computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) methods have emerged to assist radiologists in identifying anomalies. However, the rapid advancement of medical technology has led to the adoption of deep learning methods. These techniques enhance diagnostic efficiency, reduce observer variability, and consistently outperform traditional approaches. Resource constraints that can distinguish whether a cancer is aggressive or not is a significant problem in PCa treatment. This study aims to identify PCa using MRI images by combining deep learning and transfer learning (TL). Researchers have explored numerous CNN-based Deep Learning methods for classifying MRI images related to PCa. In this study, we have developed an approach for the classification of PCa using transfer learning on a limited number of images to achieve high performance and help radiologists instantly identify PCa. The proposed methodology adopts the EfficientNet architecture, pre-trained on the ImageNet dataset, and incorporates three branches for feature extraction from different MRI sequences. The extracted features are then combined, significantly enhancing the model's ability to distinguish MRI images accurately. Our model demonstrated remarkable results in classifying prostate cancer, achieving an accuracy rate of 88.89%. Furthermore, comparative results indicate that our approach achieve higher accuracy than both traditional hand-crafted feature techniques and existing deep learning techniques in PCa classification. The proposed methodology can learn more distinctive features in prostate images and correctly identify cancer.

Abstract 18097: The Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease in North Africa and Middle East Region From 1990-2019: Results From the GBD Study

BACKGROUND: Despite the substantial burden of IHD in North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region, temporal trends of the burden of IHD were not systematically evaluated in this region and its countries previously. Methods: We reported deaths, premature mortality, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs of IHD in NAME region and its 21 countries during 1990-2019 using the results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Premature IHD mortality was defined as IHD death in males <55 and females <65 years of age. Results: IHD accounted for 0.8 million deaths and 18 million DALYs in NAME in 2019. From 1990-2019, the age-standardized death rate of IHD significantly decreased by 29% (-37 to -22) and reached 219 (194 to 247) per 100,000 in NAME in 2019 (Fig A) compared with the global estimates of -31% (-35 to -27) and 118 (108 to 126), respectively. From 1990-2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of IHD significantly decreased by 33% (95% CI: -41 to -25) and reached 4159 (3651 to 4752) per 100,000 population in NAME in 2019 (Fig B) compared with the global estimates of -29% (-33 to -24) and 2243 (2099 to 2385), respectively. The reduction in age-standardized DALY was mostly derived from the reduction in YLL (-34%) rather than YLD (-4%) compared with worldwide estimates of -29% and -6%. While the decreasing pattern in the age-standardized DALY and death rate of IHD was consistently observed across all 21 NAME countries, it was not statistically significant for Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen (Fig C, D). In 2019, 27% of IHD deaths in females and 18% of IHD deaths in males were premature in NAME, which was higher than the worldwide estimates of 17% and 15%, respectively. Turkey, Iran, and Lebanon showed the greatest reduction in IHD premature mortality during 1990-2019. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the improvements, IHD still remains the leading cause of lost death and DALYs in NAME. People are more likely to die prematurely due to IHD with more pronounced sex disparities in NAME compared with the global average.

Epidemiological trend of lung cancer burden caused by residential radon exposure in China from 1990 to 2019.

This study employed time series data to assess long-term changes in the burden of lung cancer (LC) caused by residential radon exposure, an important environmental risk factor, so as to develop evidence-based strategies for future public health management. Based on the open data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2019) database, we conducted an analysis of the residential radon exposure-caused LC mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and corresponding crude rates and age-standardized rates (ASRs) for various age groups. We employed the employed age-period-cohort (APC) model to investigate the age, period, and cohort effects of the data, allowing us to discern the trends in LC disease burden attributable to radon exposure in residential settings over time. From 1990 to 2019, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rates of LC caused by residential radon exposure in China demonstrated an overall increasing trend, with males higher than females. The CMR and crude DALYs rate for males were higher than those for females across all age groups. The APC analysis revealed that the local drift of LC death and DALYs rates in males and females showed a decreasing trend before 60 and an increasing trend after 60. The persistent presence of residential radon exposure as a crucial risk factor for LC underscores the need for public health authorities and policymakers to take more proactive measures to reduce radon exposure. Particularly, attention should be paid on the elderly population and male patients.

Acidified drinking water improves motor function, prevents tremors and changes disease trajectory in Cln2R207X mice, a model of late infantile Batten disease

Batten disease is a group of mostly pediatric neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders caused by mutations in the CLN1–14 genes. We have recently shown that acidified drinking water attenuated neuropathological changes and improved motor function in the Cln1R151X and Cln3−/− mouse models of infantile CLN1 and juvenile CLN3 diseases. Here we tested if acidified drinking water has beneficial effects in Cln2R207X mice, a nonsense mutant model of late infantile CLN2 disease. Cln2R207X mice have motor deficits, muscle weakness, develop tremors, and die prematurely between 4 and 6 months of age. Acidified water administered to Cln2R207X male mice from postnatal day 21 significantly improved motor function, restored muscle strength and prevented tremors as measured at 3 months of age. Acidified drinking water also changed disease trajectory, slightly delaying the death of Cln2R207X males and females. The gut microbiota compositions of Cln2R207X and wild-type male mice were markedly different and acidified drinking water significantly altered the gut microbiota of Cln2R207X mice. This suggests that gut bacteria might contribute to the beneficial effects of acidified drinking water. Our study demonstrates that drinking water is a major environmental factor that can alter disease phenotypes and disease progression in rodent disease models.

Progress in cancer control leads to a substantial number of cancer deaths avoided in Canada.

It is currently not known how many more cancer deaths would have occurred among Canadians if cancer mortality rates were unchanged following various modern human interventions. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of cancer deaths that have been avoided in Canada since the age-standardized overall cancer mortality rate peaked in 1988. We applied the age-specific overall cancer mortality rates from 1988 to the Canadian population for all subsequent years to estimate the number of expected deaths. Avoided cancer deaths were estimated as the difference between the observed and expected number of cancer deaths for each year. Since 1988, there have been 372 584 (standardized mortality ratio = 0.77) and 120 045 (standardized mortality ratio = 0.90) avoided cancer deaths in males and females, respectively (492 629 total). Nearly half a million cancer deaths have been avoided in Canada since the overall cancer mortality rate peaked, which demonstrates the exceptional progress made in modern cancer control in Canada.

Exploring the Association of Male Sex With Adverse Outcomes in Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort Study

Background and ObjectiveBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in infants born premature. Male sex is an independent risk factor for the development of BPD. However, whether male sex is associated with adverse outcomes occurring after formal diagnosis of severe BPD prior to hospital discharge remains unclear. Research QuestionIs male sex associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in infants with established severe BPD? Study Design and MethodsA retrospective, multi-center cohort study of infants enrolled in the BPD Collaborative Registry from January 1, 2015, to June 29th, 2022 was performed. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were stratified by sex (i.e., male vs. female). Regression modeling was used to estimate the association of sex with the primary composite outcome of death or tracheostomy at hospital discharge. ResultsWe identified 1156 infants with severe BPD, defined at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) by the National Institutes of Health 2001 consensus definition. The cohort was predominantly male (59% males, 41% females). However, rates of mechanical ventilation at 36 weeks’ PMA (i.e. type 2 severe BPD) did not differ by sex. Overall mortality within the cohort was low (5.3% males, 3.6 % females). The odds ratio of death or tracheostomy for males to females was 1.0 (95%CI: 0.7, 1.5). InterpretationOur results lead us to speculate that while sex is an important variable contributing to the development and pathogenesis of severe BPD, it does not appear to be associated with adverse outcomes in this cohort of infants with established disease. The surprising results raise important questions surrounding the temporal role of biological sex in developing severe BPD and its progression during the NICU stay. As we explore the phenotypes and endotypes of BPD, it is imperative to consider how sex modulates the disease from birth through hospital discharge.

Geospatial distribution of under-five mortality in Alexandria, Egypt: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundGlobally, infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, along with pre-term birth complications, birth asphyxia and trauma, and congenital anomalies remain the leading causes of death for under-five mortality (U5M). This study aimed to identify the geospatial pattern of U5M in Alexandria and its key determinants.MethodologyWe analyzed the geospatial distribution of 3064 deaths registered at 24 health offices reported from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. We adopted two methods of analysis: geospatial analysis and the structural equation model (SEM).ResultNeonates represented 58.7% of U5M, while post-neonates and children were 31.1%, 10.2%respectively. Male deaths were significantly higher compared to females (P = 0.036). The main leading causes of U5M were prematurity (28.32%), pneumonia (11.01%), cardiac arrest (10.57%), congenital malformation (9.95%), and childhood cardiovascular diseases (9.20%). The spatial distribution of U5M (including the most common three causes) tends to be clustered in western parts of Alexandria (El Hawaria, Bahig, Hamlis, and Ketaa Maryiut). SEM showed the total effects of exogenous and intermediate variables on U5M. The U5M proportionately increased by living in rural areas (8.48), followed by crowding rate (8.35), household size (1.36), population size (0.52), and illiteracy average (0.06). On the contrary, the U5M decreased with increasing access to sanitation (-0.17) and access to drinking water (-4.55).ConclusionIlliteracy, and poor locality characteristics (household size, population density, and access to water supply and sanitation) were statistically significant predictors of U5M.

A five necroptosis-related lncRNA signature predicts the prognosis of bladder cancer and identifies hot or cold tumors.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a leading cause of male cancer-related deaths globally. Immunotherapy is showing promise as a treatment option for BC. Numerous studies suggested that necroptosis and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were critical players in the development of cancers and interacting with cancer immunity. However, the prognostic value of necroptosis-related lncRNAs and their impact on immunotherapeutic response in patients with BC have yet to be well examined. Thus, this study aims to find new biomarkers for predicting prognosis and determining immune subtypes of BC to select appropriate patients from a heterogeneous population. The clinicopathology and transcriptome information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was downloaded, and coexpression analysis was performed to identify necroptosis-related lncRNAs. Then LASSO regression was employed to construct a prediction signature. The signature performance was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method, Time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The functional enrichment, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint activation, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of common drugs in risk groups were compared. The consensus clustering analysis based on lncRNAs associated with necroptosis was made to get 2 clusters to identify hot and cold tumors further. Lastly, the immune response between cold and hot tumors was discussed. In this study, a model containing 5 necroptosis-related lncRNAs was constructed. The risk score distribution of these lncRNAs was compared between low- and high-risk groups in the training, testing, and entire sets. K-M analysis showed that the low-risk patients had significantly better prognosis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year ROC curves in the entire sets were 0.690, 0.709, and 0.722, respectively. High-risk patients were enriched in lncRNAs related to tumor immunity and had better immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint activation. Hot tumors and cold tumors were effectively distinguished by clusters 1 and cluster 2, respectively. We developed a necroptosis-related signature based on 5 prognostic lncRNAs, expected to become a new tool for evaluating the prognosis of patients with BC and classifying hot or cold tumors, thus facilitating the development of precision therapy for BC.

COVID-19-Related Age Profiles for SARS-CoV-2 Variants in England and Wales and States of the USA (2020 to 2022): Impact on All-Cause Mortality.

Since 2020, COVID-19 has caused serious mortality around the world. Given the ambiguity in establishing COVID-19 as the direct cause of death, we first investigate the effects of age and sex on all-cause mortality during 2020 and 2021 in England and Wales. Since infectious agents have their own unique age profile for death, we use a 9-year time series and several different methods to adjust single-year-of-age deaths in England and Wales during 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 base year) to a pathogen-neutral single-year-of-age baseline. This adjusted base year is then used to confirm the widely reported higher deaths in males for most ages above 43 in both 2020 and 2021. During 2020 (+COVID-19 but no vaccination), both male and female population-adjusted deaths significantly increased above age 35. A significant reduction in all-cause mortality among both males and females aged 75+ could be demonstrated in 2021 during the widespread COVID-19 vaccination period; however, deaths below age 75 progressively increased. This finding arises from a mix of vaccination coverage and year-of-age profiles of deaths for the different SARS-CoV-2 variants. In addition, specific effects of age around puberty were demonstrated, where females had higher deaths than males. There is evidence that year-of-birth cohorts may also be involved, indicating that immune priming to specific pathogen outbreaks in the past may have led to lower deaths for some birth cohorts. To specifically identify the age profile for the COVID-19 variants from 2020 to 2023, we employ the proportion of total deaths at each age that are potentially due to or 'with' COVID-19. The original Wuhan strain and the Alpha variant show somewhat limited divergence in the age profile, with the Alpha variant shifting to a moderately higher proportion of deaths below age 84. The Delta variant specifically targeted individuals below age 65. The Omicron variants showed a significantly lower proportion of overall mortality, with a markedly higher relative proportion of deaths above age 65, steeply increasing with age to a maximum around 100 years of age. A similar age profile for the variants can be seen in the age-banded deaths in US states, although they are slightly obscured by using age bands rather than single years of age. However, the US data shows that higher male deaths are greatly dependent on age and the COVID variant. Deaths assessed to be 'due to' COVID-19 (as opposed to 'involving' COVID-19) in England and Wales were especially overestimated in 2021 relative to the change in all-cause mortality. This arose as a by-product of an increase in COVID-19 testing capacity in late 2020. Potential structure-function mechanisms for the age-specificity of SARS-CoV-2 variants are discussed, along with potential roles for small noncoding RNAs (miRNAs). Using data from England, it is possible to show that the unvaccinated do indeed have a unique age profile for death from each variant and that vaccination alters the shape of the age profile in a manner dependent on age, sex, and the variant. The question is posed as to whether vaccines based on different variants carry a specific age profile.

Aminooxyacetic acid hemihydrochloride leads to decreased intracellular ATP levels and altered cell cycle of prostate cancer cells by suppressing energy metabolism

The second most common cancer among men is prostate cancer, which is also the fifth leading reason for male cancer deaths worldwide. Bone metastases are the main factor affecting the prognosis of prostate cancer. Consequently, antitumor and anti-prostate cancer-induced bone destruction medicines are urgently needed. We previously discovered that aminooxyacetic acid hemihydrochloride (AOAA) suppressed bone resorption and osteoclast growth by decreasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and limiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Here, we evaluated the impacts of AOAA on prostate cancer RM-1 cells in vitro. It’s found that AOAA significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, decreased ATP levels, increased ROS, halted the cell cycle phase, and triggered apoptosis. AOAA also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and the ability to uptake glucose, suggesting that the antitumor effects of AOAA were expressed through the inhibition of OXPHOS and glycolysis. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of AOAA in vivo using a prostate cancer-induced bone osteolysis mice model. AOAA also delayed tumor growth and bone destruction in vivo. On the whole, our findings imply that AOAA may potentially have therapeutic effects on prostate cancer and prostate cancer-induced osteolysis.

Gender differences in estimated excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

BackgroundThere is a limited body of research specifically examining gender inequality in excess mortality and its variations across age groups and geographical locations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the patterns of gender inequality in excess all-cause mortality in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData pertaining to all-cause deaths and population between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021, were obtained from Thailand’s Bureau of Registration Administration. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) technique was used to estimate excess mortality during the pandemic between January 2020 to December 2021. Gender differential excess mortality was measured as the difference in age-standardized mortality rates between men and women.ResultsOur SARIMA-based estimate of all-cause mortality in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic amounted to 1,032,921 deaths, with COVID-19-related fatalities surpassing official figures by 1.64 times. The analysis revealed fluctuating patterns of excess and deficit in all-cause mortality rates across different phases of the pandemic, as well as among various age groups and regions. In 2020, the most pronounced gender disparity in excess all-cause mortality emerged in April, with 4.28 additional female deaths per 100,000, whereas in 2021, the peak gender gap transpired in August, with 7.52 more male deaths per 100,000. Individuals in the 80 + age group exhibited the largest gender gap for most of the observed period. Gender differences in excess mortality were uniform across regions and over the period observed. Bangkok showed the highest gender disparity during the peak of the fourth wave, with 24.18 more male deaths per 100,000.ConclusionThe findings indicate an overall presence of gender inequality in excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, observed across age groups and regions. These findings highlight the need for further attention to be paid to gender disparities in mortality and call for targeted interventions to address these disparities.

Accelerated failure time survival model for prostate cancer

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men globally and ranks sixth among male cancer-related deaths. This study utilized survival analysis to assess post-diagnosis outcomes, aiming to enhance prostate cancer patient longevity. Insights were gained by determining median survival times, identifying prognostic factors, and applying an AFT model to prostate cancer data. Methods: The study collected data from 502 prostate cancer patients featured in a 1980 paper by D. P. Byar and S. B. Green, focusing on stage 3 or 4 cases. Over six years, they monitored these patients' survival under varying estrogen doses, analyzing 15 variables. Data import was done using excel, R and SPSS were used for the analysis. Utilizing the Kaplan-Meier method and AFT models, the study identified predictive factors and determined the most suitable model for prostate cancer analysis. Results: Among the 502 patients, 70.7% died, and 29.3% were right-censored, with a median survival of 35 months. Factors enhancing survival included a 1.0 mg estrogen dose, higher body weight, and elevated serum hemoglobin levels. In contrast, age, tumor size, cardiovascular disease history, and a composite index of stage and histology grade were associated with reduced survival odds in prostate cancer patients. Conclusions: Prostate cancer patients had a median survival of 35 months, with survival rates at 60 months (31.7%) and 75 months (23.2%). The 1.0 mg estrogen dose proved most effective among tested doses. The Weibull AFT model, with an AIC score of 3469.032, was the best-fit model.

Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide and daily mortality in Brazil: A nationwide time-series study between 2003–2017

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), despite its ubiquitousness, there is relatively less epidemiological evidence regarding the health risks associated with SO2 compared to other pollutants, especially in low-income countries where there are high levels of SO2 emissions. In this study, we estimated the association between ambient SO2 exposure and daily mortality in Brazil over a period of 15 years (2003–2017). We used an extension of the two-stage time-series design in a time-series analytic approach with a distributed lag model. The study population consisted of 2,872,084 death records, with a higher proportion of male deaths observed across all-cause mortality (58%). The majority of the individuals were aged above 65 years. The mean SO2 concentration across the study period was 1.5 μg/m³ (range: 0.0 to 71.0). The national meta-analysis for the whole dataset (without stratification by sex and age) showed an uncertain association, in which a 10 μg/m3 increase in daily SO2 was associated with an RR of mortality of 1.015 (95%CI: 0.992; 1.037). Robust associations were observed only for the subgroup analysis of people 46–65 years old [RR = 1.050 (95%CI: 1.004; 1.096)] and men 46–65 years old [RR = 1.064 (95%CI: 1.005; 1.122)]. We found moderate heterogeneity in the national analysis, with an I2 of 21% for the subgroup of people 46–65 years old. Excess mortality fraction for people between 46 and 65 years old attributable to per 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 was 2.93% (95% eCI: 0.29%–6.78%). These results highlight the need for targeted air pollution control policies to reduce the health burden of SO2 exposure in Brazil. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind the age-specific and regional effects of SO2 on mortality.

The Role of Multiparametric MRI in the Local Staging of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer ranks as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer globally among men and stands as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in males. Hence, an early and precise diagnosis and staging are critical. Traditional staging is based on clinical nomograms but presents a lower performance than prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Since tumor staging serves as the basis for risk stratification, prognosis, and treatment decision-making, the primary objective of mpMRI is to distinguish between organ-confined and locally advanced diseases. Therefore, this imaging modality has emerged as the optimal selection for the local staging of prostate cancer, offering incremental value in evaluating pelvic nodal disease and bone involvement, and supplying supplementary insights regarding the precise location and disease extension. As per the Prostate Imaging Reporting & Data System v2.1 guideline, a comprehensive and accurate mpMRI requires several key sequences, which include T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for morphological assessment, with T2WI serving as the cornerstone for local staging. Additionally, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic sequences acquired with intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast medium (DCE) are crucial components. It is worth noting that while MRI exhibits high specificity, its sensitivity in diagnosing extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and lymph node metastases is limited. Moreover, mpMRI has its own constraints and is not as effective in detecting distant metastases or evaluating lymph nodes, for which extended pelvic lymph node dissection remains the gold standard. This review aims to highlight the significance of mpMRI in prostate cancer staging and provide a practical approach to assessing extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasions, and the involvement of adjacent organs and lymph nodes.

Secular trends and attributable risk factors of esophageal cancer deaths among non-elderly adults based on Global Burden of Disease Study.

Esophageal cancer (EC) poses a persistent threat to the health of non-elderly adults. This study aims to elucidate the temporal trends of EC-related mortality and investigate the impact of various risk factors on such deaths in the age group of 20-59years, spanning 3 decades. Data on EC deaths were acquired from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study. We employed estimated average percentage change (EAPC) and linear mixed-effects (LME) models to analyze mortality trends and pertinent risk factors for EC. Between 1990 and 2019, EC mortality showed a downward trend, and the global number of deaths from EC among non-elderly adults surged by 24.37%. During this period, mortality rates saw an increase in only two regions-the Caribbean and Western Sub-Saharan Africa (EAPCs > 0). For male deaths, smoking and alcohol use emerged as the primary risk factors, while high body mass index (BMI) stood out as the main risk factor for female deaths. Furthermore, the LME model identified male sex, advancing age, alcohol use, smoking, and chewing tobacco as factors associated with an additional rise in EC deaths. EC continues to exert a substantial toll on mortality among young and middle-aged adults globally. Implementing targeted interventions are significant in alleviating the burden of this disease within this population.

Global Epidemiology of Cirrhosis: Changing Etiological Basis and Comparable Burden of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis between Males and Females

Introduction: The etiology of liver diseases has changed significantly, but its impact on the comparative burden of cirrhosis between males and females is unclear. We estimated sex differences in the burden of cirrhosis across 204 countries and territories from 2010 to 2019. Methods: We analyzed temporal trends in the burden of cirrhosis using the methodology framework of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. We estimated annual frequencies and age-standardized rates (ASRs) of cirrhosis incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by sex, region, country, and etiology. Results: In 2019, the frequency of incident cases, deaths, and DALYs due to cirrhosis was 1,206,125, 969,068, and 31,781,079 in males versus 845,429, 502,944, and 14,408,336 in females, respectively. From 2010 to 2019, the frequency of cirrhosis deaths increased by 9% in males and 12% in females. Incidence ASRs remained stable in males but increased in females, while death ASRs declined in both. Death ASRs for both sexes declined in all regions, except in the Americas where they remained stable. In 2019, alcohol was the leading cause of cirrhosis deaths in males, and hepatitis C in females. Death ASRs declined for all etiologies in both sexes, except in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The ratio of female-to-male incidence ASRs in 2019 was lowest in alcohol(0.5), and highest in NASH(1.3), while the ratio of female-to-male death ASRs was lowest in alcohol(0.3) and highest in NASH(0.8). Conclusion: The global burden of cirrhosis is higher in males. However, incidence and death ASRs from NASH cirrhosis in females are comparable to that of males.