General Health Indicators Research Articles

Study on the relationship between the age at natural menopause and postmenopausal metabolic syndrome

To explore the relationship between the early or delayed age at natural menopause and metabolic syndrome (MS) in women. A total of 4 734 natural menopausal women who completed the baseline survey from November 2017 to January 2020 in the Guangzhou Middle-aged and Elderly Chronic Disease Prospective Cohort Study were selected in this cross-sectional study. Data on general demographic characteristics, disease history and female physiological health indicators were collected. Logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline curve were used to analyze the relationship between the age at natural menopause and MS. The results showed that the mean age of the subjects was (60±6) years old. The median (Q1,Q3) age at natural menopause was 50 (49, 52) years old, and the prevalence of MS was 14.8%(699/4 734). After adjusting for confounders, the age at natural menopause was closely related to MS in an approximate"U"shape. Compared with the group of normal age at natural menopause, the early age at menopause (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.12-2.06) and delayed age at menopause (OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.36-2.30) had a higher risk of MS. In the group with time since menopause ≤6 years and 7-9 years, the risk of MS in the group with delayed age at menopause was 2.40 times (95%CI: 1.54-3.75) and 2.19 times (95%CI: 1.11-4.31) higher than that in the group with normal menopausal age, respectively. In conclusion, the early and delayed age at natural menopause increased the risk of MS. The increased risk of MS in delayed age at natural menopause mainly occurred within 10 years since menopause.

Forced migration and integration - comparison of physical fitness of children from Poland and Ukraine as an indicator of general health.

The aim of the study was to briefly analyze the results of selected fitness tests of Ukrainian adolescents against their Polish counterparts. The study was school-based, carried out between April and June 2022. It included 642 children from Poland and Ukraine (aged 10 to 16) who attended 10 randomly selected primary schools in Kraków (Poland). Analyzed parameters included physical fitness tests: flexibility test, standing broad jump, 10x5m shuttle run, abdominal muscle strength test (sit-ups, 30 s), handgrip strength (left and right hand) and overhead medicine ball throw (backwards). The Ukrainian girls obtained less favorable results of the fitness tests compared to the Polish children, with the exception of handgrip strength. Also the Ukrainian boys were characterized by lower results of the fitness tests, except for the shuttle run and handgrip strength of the left hand, compared to their counterparts from Poland. The Ukrainian children obtained mainly less favorable results of the fitness tests compared to the Polish children. It should be stressed that analyzed characteristics play an important role in childrens' current as well as future health. Considering the obtained results, to properly accommodate to the changing needs of the population, educators, teachers and parents should advocate for more physical activity opportunities for children. Additionally, interventions focused on fitness, health and wellness promotion, as well as risk-reduction on individual and community levels should be developed and implemented.

Predictors of antibiotic use in pregnant women attending Najran University Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

To determine the prevalence of antibiotic use by pregnant women in Najran, Saudi Arabia. A total of 125 women aged 18 to 45 with a full-term pregnancy participated from October to December 2019. Age, order of current pregnancy, body mass index (BMI), history of miscarriage, and comorbidity were used to estimate antibiotic use. The majority were Saudis (67.2%), aged 30-35 (39.2%) years, with no history of miscarriage (53.6%), second order of pregnancy (26.4%), and going through weeks 20-25 of pregnancy (21.6%). A total of 26.4% of pregnant women had antibiotic prescriptions in the study population. Pregnant women under 30 years were less likely to receive antibiotics. The results found an association between maternal age, order of pregnancy and antibiotic use during pregnancy. An association was observed between maternal BMI and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions after antibiotic use. In addition, a history of miscarriage was negatively associated with the use of antibiotics during pregnancy. These predictors of antibiotic administration have the potential to serve as general health indicators and to direct preventative strategies aimed at increasing the rational use of antibiotics.

Socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes in the United States in the late 2010s: results from four national population-based studies

BackgroundDespite the importance of monitoring health disparities by multiple socioeconomic categories, there have been no recent updates on the prevalence of general health indicators by socioeconomic categories. The present study aims to update the prevalence estimates of health indicators by education and income categories across three age groups (children, young and middle-aged adults, and older adults) in the late 2010s by using four nationally representative data sources. We also examine socioeconomic differences in health by race/ethnicity subgroups.MethodsData were obtained from four nationally representative data sources from the U.S.: The National Health Interview Survey (2015–2018); the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES (2017–2020); the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2016–2020); and the Health & Retirement Study (2016). Respondent-rated health and obesity were selected as the health indicators of interest. Socioeconomic factors included percentages of the federal poverty level and years of educational attainment. We conducted logistic regression analyses to calculate adjusted prevalence rates of respondent-rated (or measured, in the case of obesity in NHANES) poor health and obesity by income and education categories after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The complex sampling designs were accounted for in all analyses.ResultsPrevalence rates across racial/ethnic groups and age groups demonstrated clear and consistent socioeconomic gradients in respondent-rated poor health, with the highest rates among those in the lowest income and education categories, and decreased rates as income and education levels increased. On the other hand, there were less evident socioeconomic differences in obesity rates across all data sources, racial/ethnic groups, and age groups.ConclusionsOur results confirmed earlier, persistent evidence indicating socioeconomic disparities in respondent-rated poor health across all age and race/ethnicity groups by using four nationally representative datasets. In comparison to a decade earlier, socioeconomic disparities in poor health appeared to shrink while they emerged or increased for obesity. The results suggest an urgent need for action to alleviate pervasive health disparities by socioeconomic status. Further research is needed to investigate potentially modifiable factors underlying socioeconomic disparities in health, which may help design targeted health promotion programs.

Using fishers’ knowledge to determine the spatial extent of deep-water spawning of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in Newfoundland, Canada

IntroductionOn the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelf, Canada, capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a key forage fish that migrates annually from offshore to spawn within coastal embayments. Although capelin are thought to primarily spawn on beaches in this region, they also spawn subtidally in deeper water (5–40 m), where their eggs remain throughout incubation. The spatial extent of subtidal (i.e. “deep-water”) spawning habitat in coastal Newfoundland is unknown and is a research priority for fishers and management.MethodsWe collaborated with capelin fishers to identify putative deep-water spawning sites as a first step in determining the contribution of deep-water spawning to capelin recruitment. Given limited fine-scale coastal bathymetry and seabed habitat type data, which impeded spatial modeling to determine suitable capelin spawning habitat, this science-industry research collaboration was key to addressing this knowledge gap.ResultsThrough two years of multi-bay fisher interviews, 84% of interviewed fishers (56 interviewees) reported having observed deep-water spawning and identified a broad distribution of putative spawning sites throughout coastal Newfoundland. The majority of fishers indicated inter-annual variation in beach and deep-water spawning habitat use, and most interviewees linked this variation to temperature and capelin abundance. Further collaborations with fishers during boat-based surveys, we sampled 136 unique sites within 12 search areas in eastern Placentia Bay and 26 unique sites within six search areas in Bonavista Bay. Underwater video surveys combined with sediment sampling revealed seven previously undocumented deep-water spawning sites.ConclusionThe deep-water spawning areas derived from these fisher interviews can now be used to build a time series for monitoring capelin spawning habitat use alongside citizen-based beach monitoring data, as a general capelin stock health indicator in a weight of evidence approach for the science advisory process.

Health-risk behaviours among people with severe mental ill health: understanding modifiable risk in the Closing the Gap Health Study.

People with severe mental ill health (SMI) experience some of the largest health inequalities of any sector within society. For these inequalities to be reduced, an understanding of the behavioural determinants of health in this population is needed. Utilising data from the Closing the Gap Health Study, we aimed to assess the extent to which people with SMI report health-risk factors and behaviours, their interest in modifying them, and the factors associated with being motivated to modify these behaviours. Adult (≥18 years old) participants were recruited via primary and secondary care in the English National Health Service. To be eligible, participants needed to have a documented diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder. Data were collected by survey on demographics, general physical health, diet, physical activity, alcohol, smoking and body mass index. Between April 2016 and March 2020, n = 9914 participants were recruited. Among people with SMI, high rates of obesity (37.5%), infrequent physical activity (62.0%), not meeting current guidelines (≥5) for the consumption of fruit and vegetables (85.0%) and smoking (42.2%) were observed. However, most participants were motivated to reduce health-risk behaviours. Perceiving the importance of health-promoting behaviours, being of poorer general health and being female were significantly associated with being motivated to modify health-risk behaviours. Despite experiencing poor physical and mental health outcomes compared with the general population, and contrary to popular misconceptions, people with SMI perceive health as important and are motivated to make behavioural changes to improve health.

Growth status of Adolescents with Diabetic Type 1 and its associated factors

Background: childhood and adolescent growth is a good indicator of general health, and attaining normal growth speed ‎is one of the goals of treating diabetic children. Diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) is well known to negatively affect growth. The aim of this study is to assess the growth parameter of diabetic adolescents and related factors. Methods: The study was conducted at Shaheed Layla Qasim Diabetic Center in Erbil City during June 2022. 160 diabetic adolescent cases were enrolled as samples for the study. Growth was assessed by taking weight and height then plotted on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts, and a blood sample to was taken to determine glycemic control (HbA1C%). Results: 160 children participated with mean age of 13.96 ± 1.8. Mean HbA1C was 9.9 ± 2.18 %. 73.8% had poor glycemic control. 33.8% of adolescents were stunted (stature-for-age) and 56.3% of them were underweight (BMI-for-age). There was a significant association between stunting and age group also underweight (BMI-for-age) with age and gender. Conclusion: one-third of diabetic adolescents were of short stature, and most of them were underweight.

Efficacy of Combination Therapy in Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease with Comorbid Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The objective: to analyze the quality of life (QoL) and functional status after combination therapy in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) and comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and methods. The study included 60 men with stable CHD in combination with COPD. The patients were divided into two groups of 30 people, comparable according to the main indicators. Study group (1) received basic treatment with nebivolol, valsartan, eplerenone, acetylsalicylic acid, rosuvastatin for CHD and basic COPD treatment with combination of umeclidinium bromide (a long-acting cholinolytic) and vilanterol (a long-acting beta2-agonist). Patients from Group 2 in addition tj the basic treatment received L-arginine in the form of an infusion of 4.2% 100 ml solution for 10 days, followed by oral administration at a dose of 3 g per day. The duration of treatment was 6 months. Quality of life was evaluated by validated standardized non-specific questionnaire «The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey» (SF-36), a validated specific respiratory questionnaire of St. George’s Hospital – St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The functional state of patients before and after treatment was evaluated by cardiorespiratory test, which included the distance 6-minutes walk test (6MWT) according to the standard method in combination with pulse oximetry (SpO2), calculation of desaturation level (ΔSpO2), recording of electrocardiogram and blood pressure before and after exercise. Results. After the treatment, patients in both groups noted a significant improvement in quality of life across all domains of the SF-36 questionnaire, which includes 36 questions with physical and mental components. Patients from group 2 demonstrated better results of treatment in all indicators of physical functioning, general health and vital activity than patients from group 1. The results of the quality of life evaluation according to the specific respiratory questionnaire SGRQ also showed a significant improvement in patients of both groups. In both groups, the distance of 6MWT significantly increased, the heart rate at rest and after exercise decreased, and the level of desaturation decreased. In group 2, the increase in the distance of 6MWT, the decrease of desaturation level was significantly better than in group 1. Conclusions. Rational combination treatment of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) with comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes nebivolol, valsartan, eplerenone, acetylsalicylic acid, rosuvastatin and a combination of vilanterol and umeclidinium bromide, contributes to improving the quality of life of patients and their functional status. Addition of L-arginine to the basic combination treatment of patients with CHD and COPD increases the efficacy of therapy and improves cardiohemodynamics. Addition of L-arginine to the treatment complex contributed to the additional improvement of the physical and mental patterns of quality of life and indicators of cardiorespiratory test.

THE ROLE OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IN HEALTH NOW, LATER, AND CHANGE OVER TIME: EVIDENCE FROM MIDUS

Abstract Systemic inflammation is theorized to be a biological pathway through which chronic stressors (e.g., discrimination, social marginalization) contribute to adverse health outcomes and disparities among older adults. Cross sectional research documents associations between inflammation and a broad array of health outcomes. Less is known about whether and how inflammation may influence health longitudinally. This study investigated whether a composite measure of inflammatory burden predicted physical health: a) concurrently, b) approximately 7 years later, and c) changes during that time. Data derive the National Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) participants who provided inflammatory biomarker data (2004-2009 Biomarker study) and health data in MIDUS 2 (2004-2006) and MIDUS 3 (2013-2014) (N=931, Mage 57, 45% male, 91% White). Inflammatory burden reflected the number of inflammatory biomarkers in the highest risk quartile, out of five: C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, fibrinogen, E-selectin, and intracellular adhesion molecule. Three general indicators of physical health were examined: number of commonplace chronic physical health conditions, out of 7; functional limitations; and self-rated physical health. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that inflammatory burden predicted all three concurrent physical health outcomes and the same health outcomes seven years later (p-values <.02). Inflammatory burden was unrelated to changes in these outcomes over time. This study adds to the literature on stress-related biological mechanisms of health and identifies a potential clinical indicator of enduring health problems. It also suggests that while inflammatory burden may demonstrate consistent relationships with physical health over time, other mechanisms may account for health changes and deterioration.

A plain language summary of daratumumab plus lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone in transplant-eligible Black patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in the GRIFFIN study.

This is a summary of a publication about Black participants of the GRIFFIN clinical study that was published in Blood Cancer Journal in April 2022. The GRIFFIN clinical study looked at the treatment combination of daratumumab plus a standard therapy for multiple myeloma (called RVd therapy, which stands for lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone) in adult patients who had not been treated before for multiple myeloma and so were considered to have newly diagnosed multiply myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer of plasma cells. Based on the participants' age, medical history, and indicators of good general health, the participants in the GRIFFIN study were also eligible to receive autologous stem cell transplant as part of their therapy. This summary describes results for the Black participants of the GRIFFIN clinical study who received daratumumab plus RVd therapy (called D-RVd) to see if D-RVd therapy is better than RVd therapy at reducing the amount of multiple myeloma cancer cells in a patient's body. Due to racial disparities leading to historically low representation of minority groups in clinical studies, optimal treatments are not defined for Black patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Since previously published results from the overall population in the GRIFFIN study indicated that D-RVd therapy was better than RVd therapy, the researchers wanted to determine if this was also the case among Black participants. Out of 207 participants in the GRIFFIN study, 15% (32 participants) were Black and 78% (161 participants) were White. In both Black and White participants, D-RVd therapy reduced the amount of myeloma cancer cells more than RVd therapy. Additionally, D-RVd and RVd therapy had similar safety results for Black and White participants. This analysis of GRIFFIN by race shows that Black people benefit from the daratumumab-containing D-RVd therapy as much as White people. Additionally, D-RVd therapy had similar safety results to RVd therapy for both Black and White people. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02874742 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Compression and Expansion of Morbidity-Secular Trends Among Cohorts of the Same Age.

Morbidity is said to be compressed when the interval from the onset of a disease or disability to death becomes shorter over time, or when the incidence of the disease or disability declines over time. In the reverse situation, morbidity is said to be expanded. This review is based on national and international studies retrieved by a selective literature search on secular trends in morbidity and mortality. The findings were derived from data from surveys and registries, and from the routine data of health insurance carriers. Three different types of secular trends in morbidity were seen. For some diseases (e.g., lung cancer, stroke, and dementia), morbidity among the elderly was compressed over time. On the other hand, for multimorbidity and type 2 diabetes including comorbidities, morbidity expanded over time. Unexpectedly, a double development was seen in certain other conditions, with both compression among the elderly and expansion among the middle-aged: this was particularly so for myocardial infarction, grip strength, and indicators of general health. The notion of morbidity being reduced by compression seems less tenable in view of the double development just mentioned. The findings suggest that the observed secular trend toward better health among the elderly has not persisted among the more recently born cohorts. This can have negative effects on social security systems, particularly with respect to retirement ages being deferred or made more flexible, as well as the cost of health care.

Associations between peer experiences and health outcomes among adolescents and young adults with asthma

Objective Although peer relationships become increasingly important across adolescence and early adulthood, research examining links between peer relationships and the health outcomes of young people with asthma is scarce. Using a large sample of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with asthma, the current study assessed whether positive and negative peer experiences are associated with AYAs’ asthma control, asthma self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a national sample of 440 diverse adolescents and young adults with asthma completed an online survey. Questionnaires assessed general and asthma-specific peer experiences (i.e. peer victimization; peer support; asthma-related peer problems) and health indicators (i.e. asthma control; asthma self-efficacy; internalizing symptoms). Regression analyses were performed to examine associations between peer experiences and health while controlling for participant age, gender, race/ethnicity, and age of asthma diagnosis. Results Results from separate regression models indicated that adolescents who experienced greater peer victimization, less peer support, and more asthma-related peer problems also reported worse asthma control, lower asthma self-efficacy, and more severe internalizing symptoms. Follow-up exploratory analyses indicated that peer victimization and asthma-related peer problems were the strongest predictors of asthma control and internalizing, whereas peer support and asthma-related peer problems were the strongest predictors of asthma self-efficacy. Conclusions This study underscores connections between peer relationships and health outcomes among AYAs with asthma. Interventions that leverage peer support and mitigate peer stress may offer a developmentally appropriate approach for mitigating physical and psychological distress among adolescents and young adults with asthma.

Dentistry in the pandemic and post-pandemic period

Oral health is an indicator of general health. Some systemic diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, cardiovascular dis-eases can be exacerbated by oral diseases. The Covid-19 pandemic has minimised and restricted dental services, including preventive dental treatment. This has led to increased demands and programmes in the post-Covid-19 period and the need to intensify dental service in the country.

Efficacy of Combination Therapy in Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease with Comorbid Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The objective: to analyze the quality of life (QoL) and functional status after combination therapy in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) and comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and methods. The study included 60 men with stable CHD in combination with COPD. The patients were divided into two groups of 30 people, comparable according to the main indicators. Study group (1) received basic treatment with nebivolol, valsartan, eplerenone, acetylsalicylic acid, rosuvastatin for CHD and basic COPD treatment with combination of umeclidinium bromide (a long-acting cholinolytic) and vilanterol (a long-acting beta2-agonist). Patients from Group 2 in addition tj the basic treatment received L-arginine in the form of an infusion of 4.2% 100 ml solution for 10 days, followed by oral administration at a dose of 3 g per day. The duration of treatment was 6 months. Quality of life was evaluated by validated standardized non-specific questionnaire «The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey» (SF-36), a validated specific respiratory questionnaire of St. George’s Hospital – St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The functional state of patients before and after treatment was evaluated by cardiorespiratory test, which included the distance 6-minutes walk test (6MWT) according to the standard method in combination with pulse oximetry (SpO2), calculation of desaturation level (ΔSpO2), recording of electrocardiogram and blood pressure before and after exercise. Results. After the treatment, patients in both groups noted a significant improvement in quality of life across all domains of the SF-36 questionnaire, which includes 36 questions with physical and mental components. Patients from group 2 demonstrated better results of treatment in all indicators of physical functioning, general health and vital activity than patients from group 1. The results of the quality of life evaluation according to the specific respiratory questionnaire SGRQ also showed a significant improvement in patients of both groups. In both groups, the distance of 6MWT significantly increased, the heart rate at rest and after exercise decreased, and the level of desaturation decreased. In group 2, the increase in the distance of 6MWT, the decrease of desaturation level was significantly better than in group 1. Conclusions. Rational combination treatment of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) with comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes nebivolol, valsartan, eplerenone, acetylsalicylic acid, rosuvastatin and a combination of vilanterol and umeclidinium bromide, contributes to improving the quality of life of patients and their functional status. Addition of L-arginine to the basic combination treatment of patients with CHD and COPD increases the efficacy of therapy and improves cardiohemodynamics. Addition of L-arginine to the treatment complex contributed to the additional improvement of the physical and mental patterns of quality of life and indicators of cardiorespiratory test.

ORAL HEALTH CARE THROUGH AYURVEDA

Oral cavity is considered as one of important organ among precious supraclavicular organs. Its importance is very much due to its two important functions, one is eating and other one is speaking. Proper eating keeps healthy, energetic and providing strength to ght off sickness. Speaking allow us to communicate with others making us socially active. The ability to progress in life would be nearly impossible without both of these functions. To keep these proper, the oral cavity should be healthy. Oral health is a key indicator of overall general health, well-being and quality of life. Poor oral health can also lead to a slew of systemic problems later in life. It is reported, that diabetes mellitus is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. As lack of oral care awareness and unhealthy food habits due to busy life, the prevalence of oral diseases is going on increase irrespective of age. Common among them are dental caries, periodontal diseases and even oral cancer. Most of the oral diseases are preventable. The progression of these diseases can also be arrested with change in diet and appropriate oral hygiene. Regarding oral health maintenance, Ayurveda recommends proper aahar vihar, some daily use procedures like dantdhavan, jihvanirlekhan, pratisaran, gandoosha and use of some single drugs decoction as mouth rinse. One can keep healthy oral cavity by following all these procedures.

Thriving through adversity: The role of passion and emotions in the resilience process.

Two cross-sectional (Studies 1, N=283 and 2, N=275) and one prospective (Study 3, N=238) studies investigated the role of passion (for academia) and emotions in the process of resilience in the education domain and in life in general. Participants were examined when facing a stressful situation related to their passion for academia (end-of-term exam period and a timed education task). All three studies showed that harmonious passion, through its positive relationship with positive emotions, was positively associated with high positive outcomes in the education domain (satisfaction with one's studies, subjective and objective performance in one's studies) and in life in general via the subjective evaluation of one's life and general health indicators (subjective vitality and fewer negative physical symptoms). On the other hand, obsessive passion was related to mixed effects on resilience. Specifically, obsessive passion related to low levels of functioning (Studies 1 and 3) and also hindered the positive outcomes (Studies 1-3) through its positive relationships with positive and negative emotions, respectively. In sum, under stress, harmonious passion facilitates high resilience across life domains, whereas obsessive passion yields low resilience across the life or no resilience at all.

Teachers' Health: How General, Mental and Functional Health Indicators Compare to Other Employees? A Large French Population-Based Study.

Teachers’ health is a key factor of any successful education system, but available data are conflicting. To evaluate to what extent teachers’ health could be at risk, we used pre-pandemic data from the CONSTANCES population-based French cohort (inclusion phase: 2012–2019) and compared teachers (n = 12,839) included in the cohort with a random subsample selected among all other employees (n = 32,837) on four self-reported health indicators: perceived general health, depressive symptoms (CES-D scale), functional limitations in the last six months, and persistent neck/back troubles (Nordic questionnaire). We further restricted our comparison group to the State employees (n = 3583), who share more occupational similarities with teachers. Lastly, we focused on teachers and evaluated how their health status might differ across teaching levels (primary, secondary, and higher education). As compared to non-teacher employees, and even after adjusting for important demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and occupational confounders, teachers were less likely to report bad perceived health and depressive symptoms but were more likely to present functional limitations. Trends were similar in the analyses restricted to State employees. Within the teaching population, secondary school teachers were more likely to report depressive symptoms but less frequently declared persistent neck/back troubles than primary school teachers. Our descriptive cross-sectional study based on a probability sampling procedure (secondary use of CONSTANCES inclusion data) did not support the idea that teachers’ health in France was particularly at risk in the pre-pandemic period. Both cross-cultural and longitudinal studies are needed to further gain information on the topic of teachers’ health around the world and to monitor its evolution over time, particularly during crises impacting the education system such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temporal relationship between depressive symptoms and self-rated health across adulthood

Objective: Depressive symptoms have been found to relate to diminished self-rated health (SRH), which is a reliable index of general health. Despite such associations, there is limited research examining the bidirectional temporal relationship between these variables. The current study is the first to investigate the longitudinal relationship between depressive symptoms and SRH utilizing a cross-lagged panel analysis in a sample that spans adulthood (ages 18–93). Method: Data from the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project were used to examine the temporal relationship between depressive symptoms and SRH in a cross-lagged panel analysis using structural equation modeling. Results: A bidirectional temporal relationship, which was not moderated by age, was established between depressive symptoms and SRH. Conclusion: This article is the first to demonstrate that depressive symptoms and SRH influence each other reciprocally over time across adulthood, even after controlling for relevant variables. Considering the ubiquity and ramifications of depressive symptoms among American adults, these results highlight the importance of investigating mechanisms that could elucidate the link between the variables in question.

Teacher's Self-rated Health in Muhammadiyah Schools in Jakarta, Indonesia

Self-rated health (SRH) is a simple, easy-to-measure indicator of general health and the best predictor of service utilization, cost, and mortality. Moreover, it is a valid and reliable measurement, notably for cognitive impairment. This study explores the determinant of the SRH of teachers in DKI Jakarta, Indonesia. The authors used a cross-sectional research design, which collects independent and dependent variables at a time. The research respondents were teachers from Muhammadiyah schools, which include elementary, middle, high, and vocational schools, in DKI Jakarta Province. The sampling technique was carried out purposively, with a total sample of 141 teachers. Data collection was carried out in July–August 2021. The results showed that only 2% of the respondents had a poor SRH and 2% had good SRH. Women were 2.3 times more at risk of being in poor SRH than men. In addition, respondents who do not have national insurance (BPJS) have a 2.4% more chance of being in poor SRH compared to those with insurance.
 Keywords: self-rated health, teachers, DKI Jakarta

Viscoelastic or Viscoplastic Glucose Theory (VGT #97): Three different Analyses using the Tools of Time-Domain Statistical Correlation, Space-Domain VGT Energy, and Frequency-Domain fast Fourier Transform to Study the General Health Index (GHI) Versus Four Medical Conditions (MC) and Six Lifestyle Details (LD) using a Type 2 Diabetes Patient Collected Data over the Past ~11 Years from Y2012 to Y2022 Based

The author has had chronic diseases for 30 years and he has self-learned internal medicine for the past 13 years. For a long time, he could not comprehend and manage the difficult medical terminologies, biomarker units, acceptance levels, numerical meanings, and biomedical interpretations, along with their real healthcare applications applied to daily life. Therefore, he has been searching for a simpler and easier way to help himself and other patients who have suffered similar diseases to overcome these hurdles.