General Health Status Research Articles

Sigmoid volvulus with 25 episodes.

We report the case of a 74-year-old male with abdominal pain, distention and obstipation for 8 hours. He had a medical history of 24 sigmoid volvulus (SV) episodes, 23 of which treated with endoscopic detorsion, while one resolved spontaneously. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention, tenderness, hyperkinetic bowel sound and an empty rectum. Abdominal X-ray radiograph revealed dilated sigmoid loops with coffee bean sign. Computed tomography demonstrated dilated sigmoid loops with air-fluid levels and mesenteric whirl sign. Flexible colonoscopy showed a spiral-like luminal obstruction of the viable sigmoid colon at 18 cm from anal verge. A successful colonoscopic detorsion was performed. Due to the poor general health status of the patient (American Society of Anesthesiologists-ASA score 4) arising from serious comorbidities including coarctation of aorta and coronary disease, percutaneous endoscopic colostomy was suggested instead of elective sigmoid colectomy. He did not approve adjunctive therapy and was discharged following 24-hour observation.

Evaluation of fibromyalgia in on-call healthcare workers

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-articular, chronic rheumatic disease with unknown etiology, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep disorder, fatigue, and the presence of numerous tender points. Working with the shift work and night shift system contradicts the normal biological rhythm of the body and negatively affects the person in many ways. The complaint of sleep disorder is widespread in patients with FM; close to 100% prevalence has been reported in some studies. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fibromyalgia and shift working order in our hospital staff. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in our university hospital. 120 people who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study, and 80 were accepted. As a control group, 95 people were reached, 80 of whom agreed to participate in the study. The Fibromyalgia Impact Scale (FES) was questioned in cases with fibromyalgia. The SF-36 quality of life questionnaire was applied to all the cases in which the study was conducted. 1990 ACR Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria were used for diagnosis. The Fibromyalgia Impact Scale (FES) was questioned in cases with FM. Results: The average score of all SF-36 quality of life questionnaire sub-field groups was significantly higher in the control group than in the group who stand duty (p <0.05). There is a difference between the study group and the control group in terms of "physical function" (p<0.001). The "physical function" score is higher in the control group. A significant difference was found in SF-36 subgroups in cases with FM (N:39) compared to cases with non-FM (N:141) (p<0.05). General health status was more negatively affected in the cases with FM. There is a weakly positive linear relationship (borderline significant) between FES1.2 (laundry) and "social function" (r=0.349, p=0.054). There is a moderately negative linear relationship between FES1.3 (preparing meals) and “general health” (r=- 0.420, p=0.019) Conclusion: As a result, fibromyalgia is more common in health workers who are working night shifts and have at least four night shifts a month. This situation negatively affects health workers' quality of life and general health. the number and intensity of night shifts per person should be minimized as much as possible to reduce the potential negative impact of night shifts on workers, especially in the lines of work where a shift work order negatively affects the human biological clock.

Quality of life in patients with temporomandibular joint arthrosis and orthopedic treatment of missing teeth depending on the severity of arthrosis and implant volume

Temporomandibular (TMJ) arthrosis severely impacts everyday activity and has substantial negative consequences for the general health state, especially when local manifestations are orchestrated by pronounced pain syndrome. That justifies the necessity of investigating the quality of life (QL) of patients with TMJ arthrosis who are undergoing orthopedic treatment. The research aimed to investigate the QL of patients with unilateral and bilateral TMJ arthrosis before and 6-8 months after occlusion correction, which was achieved by placing a different number of implants. In total, 127 patients (75 women and 52 men) were observed in the study of quality of life indicators, which were divided into four groups: bilateral TMJ arthrosis with the implantation of 3-6 implants (36 patients); bilateral TMJ arthrosis with the implantation of 1-2 implants (30 patients); unilateral TMJ arthrosis with the implantation of 3-6 implants (29 patients); unilateral TMJ arthrosis with the implantation of 1-2 implants (32 patients). Each group was comparable in age, gender, duration, and manifestations of arthrosis. QL was measured using questionnaire SF-36. In patients who were diagnosed with bilateral TMJ arthrosis and underwent implantation of 3-6 implants in the postponed period, only pain (P) and SRF scales significantly exceeded initial values – by two times and by 23.2% correspondently (P<0.05). In patients with bilateral TMJ arthrosis and implantation of 1-2 implants showed significant increase on all scales except PF and MH. Thus, the implantation of a significant number of implants (3-6) in the setting of unilateral manifestations of TMJ arthrosis showed an improvement in the quality of life of patients compared to the baseline level on five scales - PF, P, Vit, SRF and RLEH (P<0.05). In patients with unilateral TMJ arthrosis and a small number (1-2) of implant insertions, initial QL was relatively better when compared with other groups, and posttreatment improvement was seen in all scales (P<0.05). The results indicated the effectiveness of improving the quality of life by correcting the occlusion using permanent implants in patients with manifestations of TMJ arthrosis. The severity of the therapeutic effect has an inversely proportional relationship with the severity of the manifestations of arthrosis and the amount of orthopedic care provided. The obtained results indicate the effectiveness of the SF-36 questionnaire in orthopedic patients with TMJ arthrosis and general distinct health disorders.

The impact of national strategies for preserving reproductive health on the improvement of the demographic situation in Ukraine

Strategic documents on reproductive health (RH) determine the priority of this component of the general state of the population health in any country, as well as through separate targeted measures – the impact on demographic trends. In particular, measures to respect woman’s rights to protect her health, to exercise reproductive rights, to give birth to a healthy child in decent conditions, and to provide access to preventive and medical-diagnostic technologies.The health status of the population, especially its positive trends, in turn affects the provision of favorable demographic prospects of the country and is an important component of the formation of its demographic potential.The objective: to study the dependence of the state of the population RH in Ukraine on the influence of program strategic measures on its main indicators.Materials and methods. Bibliosemantic, analytical, statistical and conceptual methods were used during the research. The research period is 2002–2023.Results. According to the results of the conducted research on the trends in the state of RH in women in Ukraine, it was established that it has an unsatisfactory character in terms of its main indicators: against the background of positive changes sexually transmitted infections are quite common; regulation of the birth rate in the country takes place by terminating unwanted pregnancies; the unsatisfactory state of health of pregnant women affects the health and life of newborns; the negative dynamics of complicated births and their adverse consequences lead to maternal and infant losses.The social and economic situation of women in Ukraine, the unsatisfactory state of health care and the level of women’s well-being and their integration into social and political and economic life (Ukraine currently ranks 117th place among 177 countries in the world) lead to an annual decrease in the birth rate and negative demographic trends.The results of the study on the presence and impact of domestic strategies on improving the RH state showed that they have not been developed in Ukraine today, despite the recommendations of ratified international strategic documents. Moreover, the analyzed domestic strategies for influencing the RH state with sufficient state funding and political support of power structures in 1995–2015 proved their effectiveness in achieving positive trends both in terms of RH indicators and demographic processes.Conclusions. The conducted research indicates the need to develop a domestic cross-sectoral strategic document at the national level with comprehensive reproductive health protection measures and conditions for its implementation in order to improve the demographic prospects of Ukraine.

Dietary Intake of Polyphenols and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found in plants, foods, and drinks, occurring in small quantities and showcasing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. The primary polyphenols consist of flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans. However, there is currently no comprehensive quantitative analysis of epidemiological data on overall death rates. This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to identify the exposure-response relationship between dietary polyphenol intake and all-cause mortality. The literature was reviewed from its earliest study to May 2024, utilizing six distinct electronic databases. No specific criteria were used to choose participants based on the recruiting environment, their general health condition, country, or ethnicity. The inclusion criteria for studies were as follows: a longitudinal design, exposure to dietary polyphenols, all-cause mortality as the outcome, and hazard risk (HR) as the impact measure. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the methodological rigor of the study. The hazard risks (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by pooling data using common effects models. A protocol has been registered on PROSPERO with the identification number CRD42024545524. The meta-analysis comprised seven cohort studies that involved 178,657 adult people aged 18 years and older. These studies examined the relationship between total dietary polyphenol consumption and the risk of all-cause death. The recruitment settings exclusively used community-based approaches, with a preference for Europe (71%) in terms of geographic distribution. The study's quality was assessed to be moderate to high. The meta-analysis showed consistent evidence that increased dietary exposure to polyphenols reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 7% (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.95, I2: 48%). Pooled data from the available evidence consistently show that individuals exposed to an antioxidant diet rich in polyphenol sources may be at lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Frailty or frailties: exploring frailty index subdimensions in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

BackgroundFrailty, a state of increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, has garnered significant attention in research and clinical practice. Existing constructs aggregate clinical features or health deficits into a single...

Female Mice Exposed to Pyriproxyfen Since Prepuberty Showed Reproductive Impairment During Sexual Maturity and Increased Fetal Death in Their Offspring.

Pyriproxyfen (PPF) is an insecticide used in agriculture, which is approved for use in drinking water tanks for human consumption. However, some studies indicate that it may act as an endocrine disruptor and affect nontarget organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PPF on reproduction and general health status in female mice exposed from pre-puberty to adulthood. In the first experiment, females were treated by gavage from postnatal day (PND) 23 to (PND) 75 and were distributed into three experimental groups: control (vehicle), PPF 0.1 mg/kg, and PPF 1 mg/kg. Female mice were assessed for the age of puberty onset, body mass, water and food consumption, and the estrous cycle. On PDN 75, a subgroup was euthanized, when vital and reproductive organs were collected and weighed. The thyroid, ovary, and uterus were evaluated for histomorphometry. The other subgroup was assessed in relation to reproductive performance and fetal parameters. In a second experiment, the uterotrophic assay was performed with juvenile females (PND 18) using doses of 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mg/kg of PPF. PPF treatment reduced thyroid mass and increased liver mass. Furthermore, there was an increase in ovarian interstitial tissue and, in the uterus, a decrease in the thickness of the endometrial stroma with reduced content of collagen fibers. There was also a reduction of 30% in pregnancy rate in the treated groups and an increase in the frequency of fetal death. This study suggests that, based on this experimental model, the insecticide may pose a reproductive risk for females chronically exposed to the substance from the pre-pubertal period until adulthood. These results raise concerns about prolonged exposure of women to the same compound.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Edmonton Frail Scale

ABSTRACT Due to the need for a validated and relevant scale for assessing frailty, we aimed to translate and adapt a specific tool, ‘Edmonton Frail Scale’ (EFS), into the Persian language and evaluate its psychometric properties. In this methodological and cross-sectional study, we recruited 347 older adults in Naqadeh, Iran. Next, by using the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), we examined the construct validity of the p-EFS. The internal consistency/reliability was estimated by computing Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. The Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor model that included 11 items and accounted for 49.00% of the variance. Additionally, the construct validity of this three-factor model was supported by the results of the confirmatory factor analysis. The remerged factors were 1) functional, physiological, and cognition status, 2) medication, nutrition status, and social support, and 3) general health status. The Iranian version of EFS is a valid and reliable scale that we suggest for specialists, physicians, and health workers to measure frailty.

Health Literacy Levels of Vocational School of Health Services Students and Related Factors

Introduction: The concept of health literacy requires individuals to have basic health knowledge in order to use health services correctly and effectively, and this is very important. Considering that research in the field of health literacy in our country is not yet at a sufficient level, it was aimed to determine the level of the concept of health literacy, which is gaining importance, among students of vocational schools of health services and related factors. Methods: The research is a descriptive cross-sectional type, and the population of the research consists of students studying at vocational schools of health services at Izmir Tinaztepe University, Ege University, Pamukkale University and Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University. Individual Introduction Form and Health Literacy Scale were used as data collection forms. Results: 1370 students participated in the research. The average age of the students is 20.29±2.86 years, 78.5% are female and 21.5% are male. It was determined that 24.6% of the students smoked and 22.4% consumed alcohol. The proportion of students participating in the research who read books frequently is only 31.4%. It was determined that 46.7% of the students in the research group knew the concept of health literacy. It was determined that the average score of the students in the research group on the health literacy scale was 110.24±12.22. In addition, it was determined that the average of the subscales, the access to information dimension, was 21.93±2.96, the average of the information understanding dimension was 31.17±3.58, the average of the evaluation/evaluation dimension was 35.40±4.57, and the average of the application/use dimension was 21.74±3.13. According to the findings of the research, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the health literacy scale scores of the students according to their gender, family structure and literacy level, income level, smoking status, book reading frequency and general health status (p

Assessment of the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease depending on the clinical variability of the disease

This article describes in detail: features of the clinical course of the disease, assessment of quality of life, diagnostic criteria and modern classification of chronic kidney disease. Various pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease is revealed, taking into account the correspondence of the stages of chronic kidney disease to the ICD-10 coding. The article also details the modern methods of antihypertensive therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease, taking into account the latest clinical recommendations. Various modern studies of assessing the quality of life of patients using the SF-36 questionnaire are described, which includes 8 scales, namely: physical functioning (PF), role functioning due to physical condition (RFPC), pain intensity (PI), general health status (GHS), vital activity (VA), social functioning (SF), role functioning due to emotional state (RFES) and mental health (MH).

Association between financial hardship and psychological burden and the role of social and mental health support: An observational study.

We aimed to assess the association between medical financial hardship and psychological burden and the moderating role of social and mental health support. 2021 United States National Health Interview Survey was used. Financial hardship was defined as having financial worry, material hardship, or cost-related care nonadherence. Psychological burden was measured using perceived general health status, satisfaction with life, and serious psychological distress (SPD). Of 29,370 included adults, 49% experienced financial hardship in the last 12 months. Financial hardship was associated with a higher psychological burden (odds ratio [OR], 3.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.43-5.47 for SPD). Eleven percent received counseling/therapy from mental health professionals, and 90% had experienced frequent social support. Frequent social support was associated with lower financial hardship (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.80) and psychological burden (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.19-0.42 for SPD). Previous mental health support was associated with higher financial hardship (OR,1.40; 95% CI, 1.28-1.54) and psychological burden (OR, 9.75; 95% CI, 6.97-13.94 for SPD). Those experiencing financial hardship had lower odds of SPD if they received mental health support in the last 12 months (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.85). Future interventions should also focus on improving social support and mental health for patients as a way of mitigating medical financial hardship.

Excessive weight in pregnant women increases the chance of diagnosing periodontitis combined with tooth loss.

Excess weight (EW), especially in women of childbearing age, those who are pregnant, as well as postpartum, is a problem worldwide. Fat accumulation deregulates the inflammatory response, contributing to the development of health problems, such as periodontitis. This study investigated the association between EW and periodontitis during pregnancy. A cross-sectional, multicenter study involved 1745 postpartum women in Brazil. Socioeconomic-demographic data, gestational history, lifestyle behavior, and general and oral health conditions were obtained. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was collected from medical records with EW being the exposure. Both tooth loss and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated, and the presence of periodontitis was the outcome. Logistic regression, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and quantile regression, beta coefficient and 95% CI, estimated the association between EW (BMI) and periodontitis and its combined effect with tooth loss ≥3, as dichotomous and continuous variables (CAL and tooth loss), with 5% significance level. The EW was 27.7% prevalent and periodontitis was 11.7%. There was a positive association between EW and periodontitis: ORadjusted:1.39; 95% CI:1.01;1.92 and between EW and periodontitis combined with tooth loss ≥3: ORadjusted:1.73; 95% CI:1.36;2.20. The adjusted association between EW and periodontitis as continuous variables was also positive, showing that for each unit of increased BMI, there was an elevation in the mean CAL (p=0.04) and tooth loss (p<0.01), with statistical significance. There was a moderate association between EW and periodontitis during pregnancy, with an even greater association of pregnant women with EW presenting periodontitis combined with tooth loss.

Reproductive Capacity, but not Food Consumption, is Reduced by Continuous Exposure to Typical Genotoxic Stressor γ-Rays in the sentinel species Gammarus fossarum.

The long-term impacts of radiocontaminants (and the associated risks) for ecosystems are still subject to vast societal and scientific debate while wildlife is chronically exposed to various sources and levels of either environmental or anthropogenic ionizing radiation from the use of nuclear energy. The present study aimed to assess induced phenotypical responses in both male and female gammarids after short-term continuous γ-irradiation, acting as a typical well-characterized genotoxic stressor that can interact directly with living matter. In particular, we started characterizing the effects using standardized measurements for biological effects on few biological functions for this species, especially feeding inhibition tests, molting, and reproductive ability, which have already been proven for chemical substances and are likely to be disturbed by ionizing radiation. The results show no significant differences in terms of the survival of organisms (males and females), of their short-term food consumption which is linked to the general health status (males and females), and of the molting cycle (females). In contrast, exposure significantly affected fecundity (number of embryos produced) at the highest dose rates for irradiated females (51 mGy h-1) and males (5 and 51 mGy h-1). These results showed that, in gammarids, reproduction, which is a critical endpoint for population dynamics, is the most radiosensitive phenotypic endpoint, with significant effects recorded on male reproductive capacity, which is more sensitive than in females. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2071-2079. © 2024 SETAC.

Acceptability and perceived benefits of validated pruritus assessment instruments in the dermatological office and clinic: Theperspectives of patients and physicians.

Several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been developed for research to assess the multiple dimensions of chronic pruritus (CP). The acceptability and perceived benefits of their use in clinical practice remain unknown. To assess the acceptability and perceived benefits of validated PROMs from the perspective of patients and physicians in dermatological offices and clinics. Patients with CP due to atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic prurigo or chronic urticaria were recruited at 10 dermatological offices and two dermatological clinics in Germany. Patients completed a set of validated PROMs on pruritus intensity (numerical rating scale, NRS), symptom control (itch-controlled days, ItchCD), quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI; 5-pruritus life quality, 5PLQ) and general health status (EuroQol, EQ-VAS). Acceptability (relevance, difficulty of completion, length) and benefits (usefulness, feasibility) of these tools were assessed on a NRS (0-10) by patients and physicians, respectively. Data were analysed descriptively. Linear regression was used to study potential associations between age, sex, occupation, office versus clinic, change of therapy and physician-reported benefits. N = 523 patients (46% male, average age: 53.5 years) participated. Acceptability of PROMs by patients was high, indicated by low difficulty (Md = 0, IQR = 0-1 for all PROMs) and high relevance (Md = 8, IQR = 4-10 for all PROMs). Also, most patients (89-95%) rated length of the questionnaires as 'exactly right'. Physicians rated the NRS as the most beneficial instrument (feasibility: Md = 8, IQR = 6-10; usefulness: Md = 9, IQR = 7-10). Hierarchical linear regression revealed that only recruitment site (dermatological office vs. clinic) was significantly associated with usefulness and feasibility (higher ratings for clinical context; βs = 0.149-0.258, ps <0.05; except feasibility for EQ5d, β = ns). PROMs are welcomed by patients, while physicians consider instruments measuring pruritus intensity and impairment of quality of life as beneficial for the clinical routine. Widespread implementation of PROMs in daily clinical work is needed to improve care.

Clinical performance of the ASAS health index in chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis and its influencing factors.

The aim of this study was to investigate the status of health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to analyze factors associated with the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS-HI) in AS and its relationship with disease activity and psychological status. A cross-sectional study of 484 patients with AS attending 10 hospitals in China from March 2021 to September 2023 was recruited. The ASAS-HI assessed general health and functional status; the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) assessed psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and stress; and the Functional Assessment of Chronic illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) assessed patients' fatigue symptoms; the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-Reactive Protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Measurement Index (BASMI) were used to assess patients' disease activity and functional impairment. The correlation between ASAS-HI and the ASDAS, poor psychological status, and fatigue symptoms was observed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the relevant influencing factors of ASAS-HI. A total of 484 patients were included in this study of whom 162 were in poor health, 139 in moderate health, and 183 in good health. On univariate analysis, disease activity is an important factor affecting ASAS-HI. People with extremely high disease activity (ASDAS ≥ 3.5) had a 12 times elevated risk of having poor health status (OR = 12.53; P < 0.001). Other significant covariates included age ≥ 36 (OR = 1.58; P = 0.015), BMI ≥ 24kg/m2 (OR = 2.93; P = 0.013), smoke (OR = 1.96; P = 0.002), BASFI (OR = 1.49; P < 0.001), BASMI (OR = 1.22; P < 0.001), fatigue (OR = 6.28; P < 0.001), and bad psychological conditions such as depression (OR = 10.86; P < 0.001), anxiety (OR = 3.88; P < 0.001), and stress (OR = 4.65; P < 0.001). The use of bMARDs is inversely associated with the appearance of adverse health status (OR = 0.54; P = 0.012). There was no significant relationship between HLA-B27 and sex. Multivariable logistic regression showed that higher disease activity (ASDAS ≥ 3.5) (OR = 5.14; P = 0.005), higher scores of BASMI (OR = 1.10; P = 0.009), self-reported depression (OR = 3.68; P = 0.007), and fatigue (OR = 2.76; P < 0.001) were factors associated with adverse health status. The health status of AS patients is related to age, BMI, smoking, disease activity, poor psychological status, and fatigue and is influenced by a combination of multiple factors such as emotional state, economic level, pain, and dysfunction. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to the early assessment of ASAS-HI in order to improve the prognosis of the disease. Key Points •Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a long course and heavy disease burden, which greatly affects patients' quality of life. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the health status of ankylosing spondylitis in the Chinese population and its influencing factors. •This is a multi-center cross-sectional study in China, which can better reflect the overall situation of the Chinese population.

Evaluation of the efficacy of Vesusten® in patients with overactive bladder and chronic recurrent cystitis

Introduction. Numerous studies have suggested that lower urinary tract infections may be involved in the development of overactive bladder (OAB) in patients who are resistant to standard treatment. In these cases, treatment targeting all stages of disease progression could be beneficial.Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of Vesusten® in management of OAB in women with chronic recurrent cystitis.Materials &amp; methods. The study involved 40 patients diagnosed with OAB and chronic recurrent cystitis. All patients received Vesusten® as therapy for OAB. They received 5 mg of the medication intramuscularly three times per week for a total of 10 doses. The study included three stages: a screening period lasting up to 14 days; the stage for assessing the effectiveness of therapy (42 days from the start of therapy, including the therapy period + further follow-up after the end of therapy); follow-up period — 180 days + 14 days from completion of treatment.Results. It was revealed Vesusten® clinical effectiveness on the severity of OAB symptoms and the quality of life of patients. hree weeks after the end of treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in the severity of OAB symptoms on the Patient Perception Index of Urgency and Symptoms (PPIUS) (2.2 ± 1.0 vs 0.95 ± 1.0 points) and TUFS (28.4 ± 11.6 vs 5. 1 ± 6.4 points), a decrease in the number of urinations during the day (11.5 ± 2.2 vs 8.8 ± 2.7 episodes) and at night (3.5 ± 1.8 vs 1.4 ± 1.5 episodes) time (p &lt; 0.001). The nighttime urination frequency decreased by more than 2.5 times, while the proportion of patients who did not wake up at night for urination increased from 10 % to 35%. Evaluation of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-Q) after the completion of treatment compared with the initial data showed a statistically significant improvement in quality of life related to the severity of OAB symptoms (24.8 ± 7.5 vs 15.7 + 6.4 points; p &lt; 0.001), and with general health status (74.0 ± 31.7 vs 57.6 ± 22.1 points; p = 0.0087). The average duration of the relapse-free period, including the course of Vesusten® treatment and the follow-up period, significantly increased to 42.90 ± 9.64 weeks in comparison with the duration of the relapse-free period before patients’ inclusion in the study — 17.96 ± 7.75 weeks (p &lt; 0.001). During the clinical study, eight women experienced exacerbations of chronic cystitis (20%).Conclusion. Study results suggest that the drug Vesusten® may be an effective treatment for OAB in combination with chronic recurrent cystitis. Based on our findings, we believe that Vesusten® can be considered as a potential treatment option for patients with chronic cystitis.

Women's mental health during late pregnancy: A survey conducted in Shandong Province, China.

The study aimed to investigate the general mental health status and its associated factors in women during late pregnancy. The objective was to provide a scientific basis for developing psychological interventions tailored to this specific population. The research was conducted from May 2021 to July 2022, involving the recruitment of 200 women attending maternal and child health clinics for their late-pregnancy checkups. Data collection was carried out using a comprehensive approach, involving several validated tools. The participants completed a general demographic and sociological questionnaire along with four standardized psychological assessment scales: the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A total of 200 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis. The study revealed that the overall prevalence of positive detection of general mental health problems in women during late pregnancy was 11%. Significant differences were observed in the positive detection rate of general mental health status based on various factors such as the quality of relationships with husbands, pregnancy intentions, insomnia, anxiety, and depression (p<0.01). Furthermore, participants with general mental health problems displayed notably higher scores on the AIS-8, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 scales compared to those without such problems (p<0.01). Regression analysis indicated that pregnancy intention and PHQ-9 scores were influential factors affecting the general mental health of women during late pregnancy (p<0.05). The study highlights high rates of general mental health problems during late pregnancy, with unplanned pregnancy and elevated depression scores as key risk factors. Regular mental health screening and targeted interventions are essential to support women during this critical period and enhance the well-being of both mothers and babies.

The Effect of Assistive Robotic Technologies on Quality of Life and Functional Independence in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Purpose: To investigate the effect of assistive robotic technologies on quality of life, functional independence, and perceived fatigue level during exertion in individuals with spinal cord injury. Method: This research involved a cohort of 25 patients who had been diagnosed with spinal cord injury (SCI). To assess their progress, clinical assessments were administered both at the commencement and completion of a six-week treatment regimen. The evaluations encompassed the use of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) to measure their performance in daily living activities and mobility. Additionally, the quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale – Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) scale, while the levels of fatigue experienced during rehabilitation were gauged using the Modified Borg Scale (RPE). Results: The participants' average age and BMI were 40.72±1.28 and 23.43±0.57. Statistically significant differences were found in self-care (p=0.006) and mobility (p=0.004) values of SCIM III scale compared to pretreatment values. WHOQOL-BREF General health status, Physical health, Psychological, Social relations and Environment sub-parameters all showed statistically significant differences compared to pre-treatment values (p=0.001). There was a significant decrease in the RPE value to determine the level of fatigue during exertion in robotic walking training (p

Occupational health and safety portrait of lobster fishers from a St. Lawrence Gulf community

Lobstering industry workers are known to have poor overall health and low safety records, but there is still a gap in information concerning Canadian lobster fishers. This study aimed to report occupational health and safety characteristics of an Atlantic Canada community of lobster fishers and to assess differences between captains and deckhands. Twenty-eight participants (10 captains, 18 deckhands) were questioned and self-reported on lifestyle, general health status, work-related musculoskeletal disorders and traumatic injuries. The data collected reveal both groups’ high prevalence of cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health issues. Captains reported more occupational exposition and health issues, and showed poorer lifestyle habits than deckhands. Fishers reported potential solutions to reduce occupational risks, presented as three types: lifestyle, working behaviours and leadership. This study evaluated a community of Canadian lobster fishers regarding their occupational health and safety. Potential avenues for mitigating occupational risk specific to this community will nurture future implementation.

Machine Learning Interpretability in Diabetes RiskAssessment: A SHAP Analysis

Diabetes continues to be a complicated and prevalent metabolic illness, providing a serious burden to public health. While machine learning approaches like extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) provide intriguing options for diabetes prediction, their 'black-box' nature typically limits clinical interpretability. To overcome this gap, our work applied SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to give insights into the XGBoost model's predictions. The dataset utilized in this research comprised of 253,680 patients and contained 21 parameters, such as General Health Status, High Blood Pressure Status, Age, and Body Mass Index. After feature selection using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), 15 important characteristics were discovered. In the test set, the XGBoost model obtained an accuracy of 86.6%, precision of 54.1%, recall of 17.0%, and an F1-score of 25.9% for the Original dataset. For the RFE dataset, the model displayed an accuracy of 86.6\%, precision of 54.9%, recall of 16.5%, and an F1-score of 25.3%. SHAP analysis found that General Health Status, High Blood Pressure Status, Age, and Body Mass Index were the most important characteristics in both the Original and RFE datasets. This work provides as a platform for transparent and clinically applicable predictive modeling, assisting in early diabetes identification and preventive healthcare.