Gender Profile Research Articles

Achieving prediabetes reversal in China: a nationwide longitudinal study on the role of blood glucose and lipid management in middle-aged and elderly adults

BackgroundPrediabetes, impacting a third of the adult Chinese population, is linked to a variety of detrimental health outcomes. However, scant research has delved into the factors that affect a regression from prediabetes to normal glucose regulation (NGR) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal analysis of 2,655 adults, aged 45 years and above, drawing data from wave 1 and wave 3 of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We employed a stepwise logistic regression model to identify factors associated with the regression to NGR. Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) analysis was used to evaluate the dose-response relationships between baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and the likelihood of regression to NGR. Attribution fraction (AF) analysis was conducted to measure the impact of modifiable factors on the regression of prediabetes. We further examined how changes in these factors were associated with regression to NGR.ResultsDuring the 4-year follow-up, 570 of 2,655 prediabetes participants regressed to NGR. The stepwise logistic regression model identified older age, female sex, abdominal obesity (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.86), elevated LDL-C (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.97), higher FPG (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52–0.90), and higher HbA1c (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18–0.30) as factors associated with regression to NGR. AF analysis showed that a lower initial HbA1c was the most influential factor for regression to NGR. Additionally, evaluated blood lipid profiles reduced the odds of regression to NGR.ConclusionThis study underscores the influence of age, gender, abdominal obesity, LDL-C levels, FPG, HbA1c, and blood lipid profiles on the likelihood of regressing from prediabetes to NGR. It suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle and preemptively mitigating these risks may be more beneficial than addressing them after they have been identified in clinical settings.

Role of immune cell homeostasis in research and treatment response in hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction Recently, immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) have become crucial in regulating cancer progression and treatment responses. The dynamic interactions between tumors and immune cells are emerging as a promising strategy to activate the host's immune system against various cancers. The development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involve complex biological processes, with the role of the TME and tumor phenotypes still not fully understood. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the importance of immune cell homeostasis in HCC. Additionally, understanding the molecular mechanisms and biological functions underlying tumor–immune cell interactions is increasingly recognized as vital for improving therapeutic outcomes in clinical settings. Methods A total of 790 HCC samples were selected from public databases and real-world independent clinical cohorts. Machine learning methods, focusing on immune-related indicators, were applied to these samples. The Boruta algorithm was employed to develop an ICI score, which was used to assess patient prognosis and predict responses to immunotherapy. Additionally, a new immune subtype analysis of HCC was performed. Cellular-level experiments confirmed the interaction between TME-related factors and the tumor microenvironment in HCC. To further validate the predictive power of the ICI score, a clinical cohort study was conducted at an independent clinical center. Results By evaluating immune gene expression levels, immune cell abundance, Immunescore, and Stromalscore, we initially identified three distinct immune subtypes of HCC, each showing significant differences in survival rates and heterogeneity. Subsequently, DEGs from 1022 immune subtypes were used to classify HCC samples into three immune genotypes, each characterized by distinct prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) profiles. Furthermore, we developed the ICI score, a novel immunophenotyping method for HCC, which revealed significant variations based on gender, stage, progression, and DNA mutation profiles (p < 0.05). The ICI score also effectively predicted responses to immunotherapies, particularly through the chemokine signaling, focal adhesion, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Conclusion This research demonstrated that TME and immunophenotyping clusters can enhance prognostic accuracy for HCC patients. The independent prognostic indicators identified underscore the connection between tumor phenotype and the immune environment in HCC.

Prevalence and characteristics of liver steatosis and fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients: a cross-sectional study in populations of eastern China

ObjectivesTo describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of liver steatosis and fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in eastern China.DesignA cross-sectional, multicentre study based on an...

Work Engagement and Performance of Romanian School Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Sociodemographic and Contextual Factors

The pandemic has led to significant changes in teaching environments, which may have affected teacher engagement and performance. The aim of the paper is to investigate the levels of work engagement (WE) and work performance (WP) during the pandemic among teachers in primary and lower secondary schools in Romania and to identify if the dimensions of these two concepts differ according to gender, age, residence, status, teaching degree, and course profile, filling a gap in the specialized literature regarding these variables in Romanian education. We conducted a survey between February and March 2022 on a sample of 1051 teachers using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ 0.3). Teachers reported a high level of engagement and work performance, higher levels of WE being identified among female teachers and those teaching in rural areas. Younger teachers showed the lowest work engagement, despite their familiarity with the digital tools used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, while gender and employment status did not have a significant impact on job performance, contextual performance was higher among tenured teaching staff and women. In addition, the profile of subjects taught significantly affected engagement and performance. The results of this research can contribute to a more dynamic and supportive educational system, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for teachers and students.

Dramatic Change in the Gender Profile of Irish University Presidents: Possible Explanations?

The gender profile of Irish university Presidents changed dramatically between 2020-2023. Since the 16th century, no woman had ever headed up an Irish public university: seven of the 12 are headed by women (58%), compared with roughly a quarter in the EU. Drawing on secondary data, the chapter explores four analytically distinct explanatory hypotheses: ‘glass cliff’; state interventions; the availability of qualified and interested candidates; and the characteristics and dynamics of specific institutions. There is considerable support for the glass cliff hypothesis with 100% of the nine processes run prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) appointing men, while seven of the nine (78%) run post COVID-19 appointed women. State initiatives, and the availability of qualified interested candidates created a supportive context. Indicators in individual HEIs such as a tradition of courses in women’s studies, of gender equality champions, appointments of women at professorial and Vice-Presidential level were also important. Although change in the gender profile of Irish universities is to be welcomed, it does not indicate that gender inequality no longer exists.

Gender differences in the relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes associated with cognitive-affective symptoms.

Despite the frequent co-occurrence of depression and diabetes, gender differences in their relationship remain unclear. This exploratory study examined if gender modifies the association between depressive symptoms, prediabetes and diabetes with cognitive-affective and somatic depressive symptom clusters. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on 29 619 participants from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depressive symptoms were measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the relationship between depressive symptom clusters and diabetes. The odds of having depressive symptoms were greater in those with diabetes compared to those without. Similarly, total symptom cluster scores were higher in participants with diabetes. Statistically significant diabetes-gender interactions were found in the cognitive-affective symptom cluster model. Mean cognitive-affective symptom scores were higher for females with diabetes (coefficient = 0.23, CI: 0.10, 0.36, P = 0.001) than males with diabetes (coefficient = -0.05, CI: -0.16, 0.07, P = 0.434) when compared to the non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was associated with higher cognitive-affective symptom scores in females than in males. Future studies should examine gender differences in causal pathways and how diabetic states interact with gender and influence symptom profiles.

Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases among women in a South Asian population: a descriptive study of modifiable risk factors

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was the assessment of modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among women versus men at a newly developed preventive cardiology clinic of a large...

The Association Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Levels of Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol, Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and the Role of Dehydrated Vegetables in Glycemic Control

Objective: This study aimed to assess Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) Levels, identify specific lipid markers altered in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and evaluate the correlation between HbA1C and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL levels. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six volunteers aged 35-72 with confirmed T2DM underwent total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and HbA1c testing using the COBAS INTEGRA 400 PLUS device. Data on age, gender, diabetes status, and lipid profiles were collected in November 2023 to April 2024 from Layla Qasim Health Center located in Erbil, Iraq and then analyzed. Results: Result: In our study, the prevalence of dyslipidemia among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients was 50.88%. This varied regionally, from 59.3% in China to 83.9% in Saudi Arabia. Dyslipidemia was more common in patients with poor blood glucose control. Weight and waist circumference were positively correlated with HbA1c levels, while age showed no significant effect on glycemic control. Women showed higher LDL and HbA1c levels than men. Although weak correlations were observed between HbA1c and LDL cholesterol, LDL was strongly correlated with total cholesterol and moderately with VLDL. Early detection and management of dyslipidemia is important to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with T2DM. Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), emphasizing the importance of lipid profile management to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. We found associations between weight, waist circumference and HbA1c levels, with gender differences in lipid profiles. While the association between HbA1c and LDL cholesterol was weak, early diagnosis and management of dyslipidemia could significantly reduce CVD risk, advocating a comprehensive strategy targeting both glycemic control and lipid management in T2DM patients.

The influence of age, gender and pharmacogenetic profiles on the perspective on medicines in the German EMPAR study.

Pharmacogenetic testing in routine care could provide benefits for patients, doctors and statutory health insurances. Therefore, the aim of the retrospective, observational study Einfluss metabolischer Profile auf die Arzneimitteltherapiesicherheit in der Routineversorgung (EMPAR) was to analyze the relationship between pharmacogenetic profiles, the risk of adverse drug reactions, and patients' perceptions of drug therapy in 10748 adult (≥18 years) participants in Germany. A questionnaire was used to assess views and beliefs about medicines and participants individual perception of sensitivity to drug therapies. The questionnaire consisted of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ)-General scales (Overuse, Harm, Benefit), the Perceived Sensitivity to Medicines (PSM), Natural Remedy, and Gene Testing scales. The influence of gender, age, study collective, genotype and phenotype of relevant pharmacogenes on participant's perception were evaluated. Overuse, PSM and Benefit scores were significantly higher among patients of the collective International Classification of Diseases and Health Related Disorders (ICD)-10 Y57.9! diagnosis, which indicates complications related to drugs, compared to the anticoagulant/antiplatelet and cholesterol-lowering drug collective. Age and gender also played a significant role in patients' perceptions, with younger patients and female participants more likely to believe in medication overuse according to the Overuse scale score compared to older and male participants. Female participants compared to male participants and the old age group compared to the young and/or middle-age subgroup, scored higher in PSM and/or Harm scales, respectively. Only a tendency of increased Harm, Overuse and PSM scores was observed in the participant group with five or more relevant actionable variants compared to subgroups with 0 up to 4 variants. In conclusion, patients' beliefs about medicines and their drug sensitivity perceptions are influenced by various factors including age, gender, previous complications with medicines, and with some tendency also pharmacogenetic profiles. The higher association with more negative views related to treatment indicates that there is a need to target the underlying issues in affected patient groups in order to improve compliance to treatment and outcomes in routine care. Trial registration: EMPAR was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) on 06 July 2018 (DRKS00013909).

A-217 Estimation of the Prevalence and the Patterns of Dyslipidemia in the Korean population

Abstract Background Dyslipidemia is one of the four major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, along with hypertension, smoking, and diabetic mellitus. This countrywide study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia and to describe their characteristics using data from the Korean population visiting local clinics. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and triglycerides (TG)) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test results from Korean patients visiting local clinics during December 2023. Dyslipidemia was defined as having one or more of TC ≥200 mg/dl, LDLC ≥100 mg/dl, HDLC &amp;lt;40 mg/dl for males and &amp;lt;50 mg/dl for females, or TG ≥150 mg/dl (National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Training Program III, 2002). Glucose levels are considered hyperglycemic if blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl. The subjects comprised 1,232 patients who visited 57 local clinics nationwide were included. Lipid profile tests (except LDLC) and FPG were performed on Hitachi008AS automatic biochemistry analyzer and the LDLC test was calculated by the Friedewald equation. Data for TG ≥400 mg/dL were excluded. Results The study subject population comprised 610 males and 622 females aged 2 to 91 years. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 53.3% (657/1,232), with 49.3% (301/657) males and 57.2 (356/657) females (p&amp;lt;0.001). TC, LDLC, and TG were high in 14.5% (95/657), 33.9% (184/657), and 23.6% (223/657) of patients, respectively; HDLC was low in 28.0% (155/657). The prevalence of dyslipidemia by age group was as follows: 2 to 19 years (36.4%, 4/11); 20 to 29 years (66.7%, 12/18); 30 to 39 years (52.5%, 52/99); 40 to 49 years (61.5%, 131/213); 50 to 59 years (57.0%, 167/293); 60 to 69 years (50.1%, 168/335); 70 to 79 years (48.4%, 91/188); 80 years or older, (42.7%, 32/75). There was a difference in the prevalence of dyslipidemia between the age group under 50 and the age group over 50 (p&amp;lt;0.001). The prevalence of dyslipidemia among males and females was TC (72.6% vs 28.4%), HDLC (55.4% vs 44.6%), LDLC (53.8% vs 46.2%), TG (42.6% vs 57.4%), respectively (p&amp;lt;0.001). Thirteen of the 1,232 patients had dyslipidemia accompanied by hyperglycemia. Seven of them had mixed dyslipidemia (including raised TC, LDLC, and TG (n=4), raised TG &amp; Low HDLC (n=2), raised TC and LDLC (n=1)). Conclusions The prevalence of dyslipidemia in Korean patients visiting local clinics was 53.3% and differed by gender, age group, and lipid profile. Considering that the prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher in diabetic patients compared to patients without diabetes, additional studies targeting a large number of patients are needed to promote disease prevention and control.

Women's environmental quality of life is key to their overall quality of life and health: Global evidence from the WHOQOL-100.

Gender inequalities in health-related quality of life (QoL) are generally few and small, even in large surveys. Many generic measures limit assessment to QoL overall and its physical and psychological dimensions, while overlooking internationally important environmental, social, and spiritual QoL domains. Unique cross-cultural legacy data was collected using four WHOQOL-100 surveys of adults living in 43 cultures world-wide (17,608 adults; ages 15-101). It was first used to examined gender profiles of its five QoL international domains, and their component facets. Few significant gender differences (p < .001) were found. Women reported higher spiritual QoL than men on faith, and spiritual connection facets specifically. Men reported higher physical and psychological QoL domains than women. We aimed to identify those QoL dimensions that contribute to women's overall QoL in health, as this information could inform gender inequalities interventions in health. Environmental QoL explained a substantial 46% of women's overall QoL and health (n = 5,017; 17 cultures) (stepwise multiple regression adjusted for age, education, and marital status covariates). Five environmental QoL facets contributed significantly to this result; home environment offered most explanation. Age band analysis was conducted to understand when interventions might be best timed in the lifespan to improve women's QoL. Younger women (< 45 years) reported the poorest QoL across the lifetime, and on every domain. After 45, all domains except physical QoL increased to very good at about 60, and high levels were sustained beyond 75, especially environmental QoL. Global findings show that assessing environmental, social, and spiritual QoL domains are key to fully understanding women's QoL and health. These assessments should be prioritized in surveys that aim to improve international conservation, and public health policies.

PDOC-16 A RETROSPECTIVE AUDIT ON PRIMARY PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOURS TREATED AT DR GEORGE MUKHARI ACADEMIC HOSPITAL, GA-RANKUWA, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract OBJECTIVE Pediatric brain tumours are the most common solid tumours affecting 30 000-40 000 children per year worldwide. These tumours are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents worldwide. A single-center retrospective audit was performed to establish the characteristics of primary pediatric brain tumours at a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. The study will help with setting up efficient screening and treatment protocols for pediatric neuro-oncology guarded by the study’s findings. METHODS The results from the analysis of the data recorded for the 29 patients in the study are presented in this chapter. The statistical analysis was descriptive, and all the procedures were performed on SAS (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA), Release 9.4. RESULTS The most common age range was 0-4 years, with males (65.5%) affected more than females (34.5%). Headaches were reported in 69% of the patients, and vomiting was observed in 93.1%. Seizures were observed in 27.6% of patients and were associated with supratentorial tumours more than infratentorial tumours. On radiological examination, 45.5% of tumours were supratentorial, and the remainder, 54.5%, were infratentorial. Hydrocephalus was observed in 93.1% of patients and is associated mostly with infratentorial tumours. Pilocytic astrocytomas were the most common histological diagnosis at 20.7%, followed in second place by medulloblastomas and pineoblastomas, both at 10.3%. CONCLUSION The audit results are largely consistent with published literature in terms of gender profile, mean age at diagnosis, common presenting symptoms and signs and common histopathological types of Pediatric Brain Tumours. The small sample size and lack of sufficient clinical data make it difficult to make meaningful conclusions on some of the results.

Политика государственной поддержки и роль добровольчества в жизненных планах российских и белорусских студентов

The article reveals the role of volunteering in shaping the life plans of students in Russia and Belarus. Modern youth policy is aimed at actively and massively involving youth in various volunteer projects. Young people often get their first volunteer experience while studying at a university and it is important to understand how volunteering is included in the life plans of the most active youth groups – students. The authors analyze the results of a sociological survey of thirdyear university students in the Sverdlovsk region (Russia) and the Grodno region (Belarus) conducted in 2024 (N=3000, the sample is quoted by gender and educational profile of respondents). The life plans of Russian and Belarusian youth are studied, the characteristics and motivation of their volunteer activity are revealed. It is proved that Russian students prefer medium-term planning and practically do not use long-term prospects in their life strategies, while Belarusian youth are characterized by short-term planning mainly for the next year. The results of the study prove that the experience of students' volunteer activities has a direct impact on the horizon of their life planning.

Nephronsparing surgery for retroperitoneal sarcomas

Objective: to clarify the indications for the use of nephron-sparing technologies in surgical treatment of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas. Material and Methods. The study included 64 patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcomas with kidney and renal pedicle invasion, who underwent surgical treatment in the Thoracic-abdominal Department of the P.A. Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute from 2010 to 2021. Twenty-one patients underwent nephrectomies, and 43 patients underwent nephron-sparing surgery. The morphological profile of sarcomas, age and gender of the patients, feasibility of using nephron-sparing technologies, postoperative complications, and long-term outcomes in patients of both groups were analyzed. Results. Forty-three patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcomas with invasion of the renal parenchyma, ureter, and renal pedicle underwent nephron-sparing surgery (precision mobilization of the kidney, ureter and vascular structures of the kidney from tumor tissue, kidney resection, ureteral stenting, resection of the renal vein orifices, resection of the ureters, and kidney autotransplantation). Postoperative complications were observed in 19.0 % of nephrectomy group patients (4 pts: II, IIIB, IV and V types according to Clavien–Dindo) and in 30.2 % of nephron-sparing group patients (15 pts: types II – 8, IIIA – 1, IIIB – 3, IV – 1). No statistical differences in the relapse-free period and survival time between two groups were observed. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 84.1 %, 65.9 %, and 51.4 %, respectively. Multifactorial analysis showed that mortality increased significantly in patients over 64 years of age and was associated with both disease recurrence and concomitant pathology (p=0.009). There was also a trend toward decreased survival in patients with leiomyosarcoma (p=0.066). Conclusion. In retroperitoneal sarcomas, tumor resection with preservation of organs and structures not directly invaded by the tumor is the optimal surgical strategy. Nephron-sparing technologies do not worsen both immediate and long-term treatment outcomes. For leiomyosarcoma, tumor resection with nephrectomy is the most suitable approach.

Abstracts accepted for the 2021–2023 French Orthopaedic and Traumatology Society meetings: Proportion of women submitters

BackgroundWomen are underrepresented in orthopaedic and trauma surgery worldwide, with proportions of 4%–17% across countries and 9.1% in France. The annual meeting of the French Society for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (SOFCOT) provides opportunities for quantifying the representation of women, which has not yet been accurately evaluated. The objectives of this retrospective study were: 1) to evaluate the proportion of women relative to men who submitted abstracts accepted for presentation at annual SOFCOT meetings, 2) to analyse this proportion in each abstract category, and 3) to compare the professional profiles of submitting authors. HypothesisAmong authors with abstracts accepted for presentation at annual SOFCOT meetings, only a minority were women. MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated all abstracts accepted for presentation at the annual SOFCOT meetings held in 2021, 2022, and 2023. For each accepted abstract, the gender and professional profile of the submitting author were assessed. The female/male ratio was determined for each abstract category and professional profile for each of the three years. ResultsThe female/male ratio among authors of abstracts accepted in 2021, 2022, and 2023 was 161/923 (14.9% women), 128/541 (19.1%), and 120/550 (17.9%). The proportion of women was significantly less than the proportion of men for abstracts on the knee (41/333, 11% women (p = 0.0008)), hip (23/209, 9.9% (p = 0.002)), trauma (53 /358, 12,9% (p = 0.017)), and tumours (14/119, 10.5% (p = 0.04)). The proportion of women was also significantly smaller than the proportion of men among residents/fellows (154/491, 23.5% (p < 0.0001)), senior surgeons in non-university institutions (42/400, 11.5% (p < 0.0001)), and senior surgeons in university hospitals (23/164, 12.3% (p = 0.009)). DiscussionThe representation of women compared to men remains low at annual SOFCOT meetings despite being greater than the overall representation of women among orthopaedic surgeons in France. These results highlight the appeal of research and growing interest for orthopaedic surgery among women. Scientific societies and surgical teams must continue to encourage this dynamic. Level of evidenceIII; retrospective case-control study.

Psychological capacity profiles of different age groups and gender in a national representative sample.

Beyond the specific cognitive capacities like numerical or verbal intelligence and cognitive speed, the so-called soft skills, namely, psychological capacities, have become highly important in modern life. This is the first representative study on the distribution of work-relevant psychological capacities in the general population. We investigate capacities in different age groups, gender, and their relation with basic sociodemographics. A representative sample of 2531 people aged 14-95 years was investigated concerning work-relevant psychological capacities with the mini self-rating for psychological activities and participation (Mini-ICF-APP-S). The strongest capacities in young people were mobility, flexibility, proactivity, contact to thirds, and group interaction. Other capacities were stronger in midlife (30-59 years), such as adjustment to rules and routines, planning and structuring, decision making and judgement, application of competence and knowledge, assertiveness, dyadic relationships, endurance, and self-care. Women reported better dyadic relationship capacities, and men felt more assertive. The study provides, for the first time, representative data on a broad range of psychological capacities according to an internationally validated capacity concept. Good psychological capacities occur not primarily in youth, but especially in midlife and older age. Regarding demographic change, this implies older people are highly competent in the working world.

Evaluating cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most common type of diabetes. The main adverse effect of diabetes type 2 involves a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes patients with this type are more likely to suffer cardiovascular problems. Consequently, this study investigated demographics, CVR factors, age, gender, physical activity, BMI, hemodynamics, HbA1c stage, and lipid profile of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The current study covered 120 patients with type 2 diabetes, out of which 40 were male (33.3%) and 80 were female (66.6%), aged 50 to 70. Out of these 120 patients, 17 (14.1%) had coronary artery disease, 15 (12.5) had atherosclerosis, and 8% (6.6) experienced a stroke, according to the findings. Approximately 37.5% of patients had overweight obesity, 54% had poor diabetes control, and 10% had reasonable control based on their HbA1c readings. Furthermore, 55% were hypertensive, and around 12.5% had both macro and microvascular problems. In general, around 33.3% of all Type 2 DM patients have cardiovascular diseases (CVD), indicating that patients with Type 2 DM have a greater risk of increasing CVD. As a result, proper strategies should be implemented to avoid catastrophic outcomes and disease development.

High Preoperative Pain Score is a Predictor of Cheilectomy Failure in Hallux Rigidus

Hallux rigidus (HR) is a prevalent arthritic condition in the foot. Cheilectomy is a common joint-preserving procedure for HR, involving the removal of prominent osteophytes to relieve impingement of the 1st MTPJ. This study aims to identify factors associated with the failure of cheilectomy in the treatment of HR. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database from 2007 to 2021 identified all cheilectomy cases. The minimum follow-up was 2 years. Preoperative demographic data, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and foot radiographs were collected. PROMs were reassessed in post-operative reviews, and cases were categorized as successes or failures. Failure was defined by meeting at least one of the following criteria at the latest review: 1) Visual analog pain score (VAS) more than or equal to 4, 2) undergoing subsequent revision procedures, or 3) reporting poor or terrible satisfaction with the surgery. The analysis involved 66 patients, with 19 failure and 47 success cases. Both groups showed similar age, BMI, and gender profiles. Preoperative radiographic parameters were comparable between groups. However, preoperative VAS was significantly higher in the failure group: 7.16 vs. 5.23 (P = 0.0029). Logistic regression confirmed preoperative VAS as a predictor of non-response (P = 0.023). Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis established an optimal cut-off VAS score of 7.0. Patients with a preoperative VAS score of more than 7 had an odds ratio of 5.11 (P = 0.0055) for failure. A higher preoperative VAS score is significantly associated with cheilectomy failure in HR treatment, suggesting a cutoff score of 7.0.

Implementing a free lending of sports and leisure equipment service: a cross-sectional survey exploring user characteristics, utilization patterns, and significance among children and youth

BackgroundThe escalating costs of sports equipment, coupled with socioeconomic disparities, hinder children’s participation in physical activities. The Leisure Equipment Library (LEL), a unique service in Sweden, addresses this challenge by providing free equipment lending. This study investigated the significance of providing free lending of sports and recreational equipment for children’s and youth’s opportunities to engage in physical activities during leisure time.MethodUtilizing a cross-sectional survey during the summer-2022 period, the study is based on data from 427 LEL users aged 7 to 25 years. User characteristics (demography, socioeconomic status, physical activity profiles), equipment usage patterns and perceived significance are also analyzed. The findings are discussed using the concept of consumer-brand identification.ResultsThe results showed that LEL reaches a broad and diverse group of children and young people in terms of gender, age, socioeconomic status, and physical activity profile. The borrowed equipment, primarily used for play and recreation, serves as an essential resource for children and youths and, in particular, for those with low socioeconomic status. LEL is considered highly important by all user groups, with a majority emphasizing its significance in facilitating leisure activities.ConclusionsThe study suggests LEL’s success lies in its accessibility and that users identify with the brand of LEL. Users perceive LEL as a service catering to various recreational needs rather than sports, fostering inclusivity. The localization of stores in various types of areas, combined with high-quality products, enable children and young people from different socioeconomic areas to use the service. LEL’s success hinges on maintaining a positive brand image and promoting a recreation-oriented identity. Opportunities exist to strengthen emotional bonds with users, enhance branding strategies, and position LEL as a valuable resource for inclusive recreational activities. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of free lending services, such as LEL, to bridge socioeconomic gaps in the promotion of physical activity among children and young people.

Aversion to Hiring Algorithms: Transparency, Gender Profiling, and Self-Confidence

We run an online experiment to study the origins of algorithm aversion. Participants are in the role of either workers or managers. Workers perform three real-effort tasks: task 1, task 2, and the job task, which is a combination of tasks 1 and 2. They choose whether the hiring decision between themselves and another worker is made by a participant in the role of a manager or by an algorithm. In a second set of experiments, managers choose whether they want to delegate their hiring decisions to the algorithm. When the algorithm does not use workers’ gender to predict their job-task performance and workers know this, they choose the algorithm more often than in the baseline treatment where gender is employed. Feedback to the managers about their performance in hiring the best workers increases their preference for the algorithm relative to the baseline without feedback, because managers are, on average, overconfident. Finally, providing details on how the algorithm works does not increase the preference for the algorithm for workers or for managers. This paper was accepted by Elena Katok, special issue on the human-algorithm connection. Funding: D. Kübler acknowledges financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [CRC TRR 190], R. Hakimov acknowledges financial support from the Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Project 100018_189152], and M.-P. Dargnies acknowledges financial support from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR JCJC TrustSciTruths). Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02774 .