Adult Group Research Articles

Impact of clear aligners on gingivitis incidence and prevention strategies in adolescents and adults: a prospective observational study

ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the differences in gingivitis incidence among adolescents and adults using clear aligners for orthodontic correction and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies on orthodontic outcomes.MethodsThis observational study included 120 patients undergoing clear aligner orthodontic treatment from June 2018 to September 2023. Participants were divided into an adolescent group (66 cases) and an adult group (54 cases), each further split into a study group and a control group. The control group patients maintained their daily lifestyle throughout the study period. The study group received personalized oral hygiene education and guidance on self-oral care techniques at each follow-up visit. Routine periodontal treatment and personalized oral hygiene education were provided, and the incidence of gingivitis was evaluated six months post-treatment. Statistical methods, including chi-square tests for categorical data, t-tests for continuous variables, and two-way ANOVA for group comparisons, were employed to ensure the robustness of the results.ResultsThe incidence of gingivitis was significantly higher in the adolescent group compared to the adult group (P < 0.05). Specifically, within the adolescent group, the study group exhibited a higher gingival index (GI) than the control group (P < 0.05), while the difference in the adult group was not significant.ConclusionDuring clear aligner orthodontic treatment, adolescents are more prone to developing gingivitis than adults. Additionally, basic periodontal therapy, as opposed to verbal oral health education alone, can moderately reduce the incidence of gingivitis in clear aligner patients during treatment.

Oxidative stress suppresses internal carotid artery dilation to hypercapnia in healthy older adults.

Background: Cerebrovascular disease and dementia risk increases with age and lifetime risk is greater in women. Cerebrovascular dysfunction likely precedes cerebrovascular disease and dementia but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that oxidative stress mediates cerebrovascular dysfunction with human aging. Methods: Internal carotid artery dilation (ICACO2 dilation) and middle cerebral artery cerebrovascular reactivity (MCA CVRCO2) in response to hypercapnia (5% CO2) was measured in 20 young (10F/10M; age 23±3 years [mean±SD]) and 21 older (11F/10M; age 69±9 years) adults during intravenous infusions of saline (control) and vitamin C (acutely reduced oxidative stress condition). Results: ICACO2 dilation increased in response to vitamin C infusion in older adults (saline=4.3±2.4%; vitamin C=6.7±3.3%) but was unchanged in young adults (saline=6.1±2.7%; vitamin C=5.5±1.9%) (group*condition: p=0.004). MCA CVRCO2 was not different in response to vitamin C in either group (group*condition: p=0.341). However, when separated by sex, older female participants exhibited increased MCA CVRCO2 with vitamin C (saline=0.85±0.79cm/s/mmHg; vitamin C=1.33±1.01cm/s/mmHg) compared to older male participants (saline=1.21±0.57cm/s/mmHg; vitamin C=0.99±0.47cm/s/mmHg) (sex*condition: p=0.011). Conclusions: Oxidative stress selectively impairs cerebrovascular function in older adults in an artery- and sex-specific manner.

Serial dependence in orientation is weak at the perceptual stage but intact at the response stage in autistic adults.

Recent studies have suggested that autistic perception can be attributed to atypical Bayesian inference; however, it remains unclear whether the atypical Bayesian inference originates in the perceptual or post-perceptual stage or both. This study examined serial dependence in orientation at the perceptual and response stages in autistic and neurotypical adult groups. Participants comprised 17 autistic and 23 neurotypical adults. They reproduced the orientation of a Gabor stimulus in every odd trial or its mirror in every even trial. In the similar-stimulus session, a right-tilted Gabor stimulus was always presented; hence, serial dependence at the perceptual stage was presumed to occur because the perceived orientation was similar throughout the session. In the similar-response session, right- and left-tilted Gabor patches were alternately presented; thus serial dependence was presumed to occur because the response orientations were similar. Significant serial dependence was observed only in neurotypical adults for the similar-stimulus session, whereas it was observed in both groups for the similar-response session. Moreover, no significant correlation was observed between serial dependence and sensory profile. These findings suggest that autistic individuals possess atypical Bayesian inference at the perceptual stage and that sensory experiences in their daily lives are not attributable only to atypical Bayesian inference.

Addressing Occupational Dysfunction via Telehealth: A Scoping Review

Background: This review aims to identify how telehealth was utilized to address occupational dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: A scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s stages was utilized to explore appropriate research. The scoping review covered articles from January 2020 to December 2022. Results: A total of 23 articles are included in this scoping review which include 15 from the adult age group and eight from the pediatric. Conclusions: The use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to improve occupational dysfunction, both within the adult and pediatric settings. Further research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the use of telehealth to address occupational dysfunction.

Music Meet Up online edition: The pivot to an online music therapy group for adolescents and young adults with cancer

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the unique emotional and social needs expressed by adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. To help address this, we adapted an in-person developmentally tailored group music therapy intervention to an online format. The purpose of this study was to gain preliminary data to explore the acceptability of the online version of the group. A qualitative descriptive approach was chosen to understand the experiences of program participants, who were patients at a tertiary cancer centre in Toronto, Canada. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants, and data was analysed using thematic analysis. A total of six interviews were completed, with five participants identifying as women. Ages ranged from 24-35, and various cancer types were represented. Overall, participants felt the online version of the program was beneficial. However, interviews pinpoint advantages and disadvantages with the online format. Delivering the program online enhanced accessibility but also created issues of disrupted/impaired “connectivity” between participants and the music. Online group psychosocial interventions, including music therapy, may continue to be offered long after the pandemic. These lessons could inform how other online music therapy interventions are delivered to AYAs between 18-39 years of age and beyond.

Adaptation and normative data of the cognitive assessment battery of language (BECLA-Tr) for the Turkish adult population

ABSTRACT Introduction Normal cognitive aging is identified from pathological through the administration of neuropsychological tests, including tests of language ability. Compared to English, available tests and test batteries for assessing acquired language deficits in Turkish speakers are much more limited. This study reports on the adaptation and generation of normative data of the The Batterie d’Évaluation Cognitive du Langage (BECLA) for the adult Turkish population. Method The article describes two studies. Study 1 concerns the Turkish adaptation of the BECLA (BECLA-Tr). Study 2 examined a group of older neurotypical Turkish-speaking adults to obtain normative data. Results In Study 1, some changes were made to adapt the original test battery linguistically and culturally for use in Turkey. In Study 2, normative data were obtained based on the performance of 409 participants aged 18 years and older with different education levels. Conclusion The BECLA-Tr fills an important gap in the clinical practice of speech and language pathologists in Turkey. This comprehensive test battery has the potential to help clinicians and researchers better detect acquired language deficits in the adult and elderly Turkish population.

Reference Values of Skin Autofluorescence by Age Groups in Healthy Spanish Adults: Results from the EVasCu Study, a Systematic Review, and a Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Age is a known predictor of skin autofluorescence (SAF) across populations, but age-based reference values are lacking for the Spanish population. This study aims to establish SAF reference values for healthy Spanish adults by age group, compare these with other populations, and estimate optimal SAF cut-off points by age range. Additionally, it aims to analyse the influence of sex, smoking, and skin phototype. Methods: This cross-sectional EVasCu study included 390 healthy subjects aged over 18 years. Participants’ age, sex, smoking status, and skin were recorded and categorised into age groups. Advanced glycation end products were measured through the SAF. A systematic review and meta-analysis, including an EVasCu study, was performed to obtain pooled means and standard deviations by age group. Results: The mean SAF Spanish values by age were (95% CI): (i) 18–19 years: 1.34–1.56 arbitrary units (AU); (ii) 20–29 years: 1.56–1.70 AU; (iii) 30–39 years: 1.66–1.84 AU; (iv) 40–49 years: 1.79–1.91 AU; (v) 50–59 years: 2.07–2.21 AU; (vi) ≥60 years: 2.07–2.50 AU. SAF was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.531; p &lt; 0.001), smoking status (r = −0.196; p &lt; 0.001), and skin phototype (r = 0.138; p = 0.007), and SAF was greater in smokers and dark-skinned individuals (p &lt; 0.05). No significant differences were found in the SAF values for sex. The results of the meta-analysis were in line with those of the present study, providing reference values of SAF for the general population. Conclusions: SAF increases linearly with age in healthy individuals, and higher levels of SAF are observed in smokers and dark-skinned individuals.

Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage Among Adults at Risk in the Russian Federation

Relevance. Pneumococcal infection remains one of the most significant health problems worldwide. Vaccination of adults against it has been carried out in the Russian Federation for over 10 years. During this time, more than 9 million people have been vaccinated. However, data on the level of coverage among adults of certain risk categories are not routinely collected. Our study in 2019 showed that it was low in most groups. Given the significant increase in the volume of vaccination over the past five years, it seems appropriate to conduct a study to assess changes in the level of coverage.Aim. To study the level of vaccination coverage against pneumococcal infection in adult risk groups in the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. An observational descriptive retrospective epidemiological study was conducted. Information on the number and contingents of people vaccinated against pneumococcal infection was collected by sending a request to the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the field of healthcare. The depth of data collection was 8 years (from 2015 to 2023 inclusive), information was received from 74 out of 89 regions. In addition, federal statistical observation forms were used: No. 5 «Information on preventive vaccinations» and No. 6 «Information on the contingents of children and adults vaccinated against infectious diseases», data from the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System. The results obtained were compared with the indicators obtained in the 2019 study, which was conducted according to a similar design. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics methods.Results. The coverage rate of vaccination against pneumococcal infection among the adult population in the Russian Federation increased from 1.5% in 2018 to 7.7% in 2023. The most significant coverage rates were achieved among persons subject to conscription for military service (78.5%) and persons over 60 years old, living in residential care facilities (87.7%). By 2023, vaccination coverage has increased among the following risk categories: individuals with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (from 15.1% in 2018 to 47.9% in 2023), chronic heart diseases (from 3.8% to 17.0%), patients with endocrine diseases (from 1.1% to 17.6%), liver diseases (from 4.0% to 12.0%), healthcare workers (from 4.9% to 19.7%), school and preschool employees (from 3.1% to 12.9%), employees of residential care facilities (homes for elderly, nursing homes, ect.) (from 0.1% to 26.9%), the elderly population as a whole (from 1.4% to 12.7%), and working-age men (from 1.4% to 7.0%). There was virtually no increase in coverage among all groups of immunocompromised patients (1.0% in 2018, 6.2% in 2023), the working population with risk factors harmful to the respiratory system (0.9% in 2018, 5.0% in 2023), workers in the oil and gas and chemical industries (1.3% in 2018, 1.8% in 2023).Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the need to develop a strategy of measures to promote increased vaccination coverage in risk groups that are insufficiently covered by vaccination against pneumococcal infection.

Association between clinical and MRI-detected imaging findings for people with midfoot pain, a cross-sectional study.

Midfoot pain is common but poorly understood, with radiographs often indicating no anomalies. This study aimed to describe bone, joint and soft tissue changes and to explore associations between MRI-detected abnormalities and clinical symptoms (pain and disability) in a group of adults with midfoot pain, but who were radiographically negative for osteoarthritis. Community-based participants with midfoot pain underwent an MRI scan of one foot and scored semi-quantitatively using the Foot OsteoArthritis MRI Score (FOAMRIS). Foot pain and disability were recorded using visual analog scales (VAS) and the Modified-Manchester Foot Pain Disability Index (MMFPDI). Associations were assessed for continuous data using Spearman's Rho, and for categorical data, a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Linear regression was used to explore the association between participant-reported measures and MRI abnormalities, adjusted for age, sex and BMI. Sixty-one participants (70% female, mean age 48.5years, median BMI 28.6kg/m2) were included. Median VAS pain was 31/100mm (IQR 21-47) and median disability was 30/48 (IQR 26-36). There was a moderate association between midfoot pain severity and the number of joints exhibiting joint space narrowing; adjusted results suggested 31% (95% confidence interval 3%-68%) worse VAS pain with each additional affected joint. Greater numbers of joints with cysts were associated with worse VAS pain [14% (0%-31%)] and disability [1.1 units (0-2.2)]. Effusion/synovitis was associated with MMFPDI pain. No other MRI abnormalities were associated with sex, body mass and foot pain/disability measures. Bone marrow lesions, joint space narrowing, cysts and osteophytes occurred more frequently with age. MRI abnormalities were common, particularly in the talo-navicular joint, first and second cuneo-metatarsal joints. Those with dorsal foot pain had more multi-joint involvement, bone marrow lesions, joint space narrowing and cysts and for those with pain on midfoot movement, bone marrow lesions and cysts were reported. In people with midfoot pain, MRI-detected features of osteoarthritis and soft-tissue abnormalities were found, clustered in the medial and intermediate cuneiform joints. These features were more common with age but not associated with pain or disability measures. Younger people with dorsal midfoot pain exhibited early signs of bone and joint features of osteoarthritis and we recommend further imaging studies to determine the clinical and diagnostic significance.

The incidence trends of papillary thyroid carcinoma in Belarus during the post-Chernobyl epoch.

The increase of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) rate among children who were exposed to post-Chernobyl 131-I release was reported only four years after the accident, first in Belarus where the heaviest fallout happened. The evolution of the occurrence of thyroid carcinoma based on the age-period-cohort analysis and the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on time trends aimed to reveal if post-Chernobyl follicular cells irradiation still has been impacting on incidence rate of papillary thyroid carcinoma nowadays. The Belarusian Cancer Registry was used to identify patients with PTC diagnosed during the years 1980-2019. The incidence trends were analysed using Join-point regression software. The highest peak of age-specific incidence curve was shown during the years 1980-2001 in the age group of 15-19 years old that was associated also with short-latency cases of post-Chernobyl PTC. This is the same age group that demonstrated significant growth of the incidence rate during the years 2006-2019, largely because of the increasing number of non-exposed patients with PTC (p < 0.001). Influence of post-Chernobyl exposure also can be seen in the young adults age-groups of patients (for 20-24 years old during the years 1980-2003 and 2013-2019, p < 0.001; for 25-29 years old during the years 1980-1999 and 1999-2011, p < 0.001). After the Chernobyl accident, epidemiological waves that reflect the age shift of the group of children exposed to 131-I have consistently emerged. Currently, the incidence rate continues to increase only in the cohort of patients aged 20-44 years.

Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania

The aim of this studyto analyze lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, with a particular focus on eating habits, physical activity, social engagement and harmful habits.MethodsThe representative sample of Lithuanian population over 65 years old (1,503 individuals) was involved in the questionnaire survey, performed in January 2024.ResultsMost of the eating habits and the body weight of the older adults did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Respondents noted that their physical activity decreased, face-to-face communication became rarer, while remote communication increased. During pandemic, the increased frequency of snacking was more often indicated by persons with lower than secondary education, working, receiving higher incomes, as well as increased snacking and body weight were more prevalent among younger, single or overweight persons; increased body weight during the pandemic was more often mentioned by the persons who assessed their health poorly. Physical activity decreased more often among rural residents and groups with higher or college education; face-to-face communication has become rarer among younger people, rural residents, pensioners, disabled, people with higher income and those with overweight, while remote communication has increased among women, respondents with a university education and those with an average income (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Nearly half of the respondents indicated that the changes in food consumption and smoking frequency that occurred during the pandemic remained after it. After the pandemic, the habits of consuming fast food, confectionery or other sweets and changes in body weight mostly remained, while the patterns of communication returned to the pre-pandemic level. Most of the healthy lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic persisted after the pandemic. The lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic remained more stable in the groups of older persons, residents of smaller towns, respondents with lower than secondary education, higher income, singles, disabled, obese, and those who assessed their health poorly (p &amp;lt; 0.05).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, there were various changes in eating habits, physical activity, communication patterns, and harmful habits. Certain habits formed during the pandemic continued afterward, particularly among specific groups of the older Lithuanian adults.

Diadochokinetic rate in Thai adults using between auditory-perceptual and instrumental methods

Background: Diadochokinetic (DDK) rate refers to the time taken to execute rapid repetitive movements of articulators during speech. DDK rate assessment has been used to screen or as part of an assessment to diagnose and plan treatment for motor speech disorders. It contained alternating motion rate (AMR) and sequential motion rate (SMR) assessments. There were two main methods for DDK assessment: perceptual speech assessment and instrumental speech assessment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the DDK rate measured by auditoryperceptual and instrumental methods and investigate the effects of age and gender on the DDK rate in normal Thai adults. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were Thai adults aged 21-78. Sixty participants were divided equally into three age groups: young adult, middle-aged adult, and older adult group. All participants were asked to repeat four speech tasks as rapidly as possible, namely, AMR as [ph a:], [th a:], [kh a:], and SMR as [ph a:-th a:-kh a:]. DDK rates were measured using two methods, namely, the auditory-perceptual method and the instrumental method, which used the Praat program. The paired sample t-test examined the difference in average DDK rates between the two methods. The one-way ANOVA was utilized to analyze the average rate differences among three age groups, while gender differences were analyzed through an independent sample t-test. Results: The averages of SMR between the auditory-perceptual method and thePraat program were significantly different (p&lt;0.05), whereas the averages of AMRwere not significantly different. The findings also found that averages of SMR hadsignificant differences (p&lt;0.05) between three age groups and two genders. The young adult group had a higher average of SMR than middle-aged adult and olderadult groups. Males had a higher average of SMR than females. Conclusion: This result indicates that different assessment methods result in different DDK rates, especially SMR. Therefore, choosing the DDK rate assessment method should be careful and consider its accuracy. Moreover, the SMR task may be more sensitive than the AMR task to age-related change and gender factors.

Determination of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (uNGAL) Reference Intervals in Healthy Adult and Pediatric Individuals Using a Particle-Enhanced Turbidimetric Immunoassay.

Background: The current gold standards for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) are an increase in serum creatinine and a decrease in urine output, which are inadequate for rapid diagnosis. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a 25-kDa protein produced and secreted by injured kidney tubule epithelial cells, and can serve as an early urinary biomarker for AKI. ProNephro AKI (NGAL) is an immunoassay for the quantitative determination of NGAL in urine (uNGAL) that recently received FDA clearance. A multisite, cross-sectional study was conducted to establish reference intervals for uNGAL in apparently healthy individuals. Methods: Urine samples were collected from apparently healthy individuals aged ≥3 months who met all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria. Specimens were temporarily stored at room temperature or 2-8 °C, then transferred into urinalysis tubes before being frozen and shipped for testing. uNGAL testing was performed using the ProNephro AKI (NGAL) immunoassay on a Roche cobas c501 analyzer. Results: Of the 688 individuals screened, 677 were eligible, and 629 (91.4%) of those were deemed evaluable. The 95th and 97.5th percentile uNGAL values for all pediatric participants were below the clinical cutoff of 125 ng/mL. uNGAL values were statistically significantly higher for female vs. male participants in both adult (p = 0.003) and pediatric groups (p < 0.001), while differences were not statistically significant for age, site location, race, or ethnicity. Conclusions: This study provides normal reference intervals for uNGAL with the ProNephro AKI (NGAL) clinical chemistry immunoassay that may be useful for interpreting patient results.

Near Infrared Spectroscopy as a Diagnostic Tool for Screening of Intracranial Hematomas; A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Evidence supports the clinical applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in intracranial hematoma detection in prehospital settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of NIRS for detecting intracranial hematoma in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. A systematic search was performed in July 2024 in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. We included studies that evaluated the diagnostic performance of NIRS in detecting intracranial hematoma in both adult and pediatric patients suspected of TBI in prehospital or emergency settings, using brain computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging as the gold standard. Eighteen studies enrolling 2979 patients were included. NIRS exhibited an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88, 0.93), with a sensitivity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.91), and specificity of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) across all age groups. In children, the results demonstrated an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.94), sensitivity of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.21, 1.00), and specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.91). Among adults, the AUC was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.93), with sensitivity and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.92) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.91), respectively. Performance improved when NIRS was operated by non-physicians (AUC = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.91, 0.96], sensitivity = 0.90 [95% CI: 0.79, 0.95], specificity = 0.85 [95% CI: 0.71, 0.93]) compared to physicians (AUC = 0.90 [95% CI: 0.87, 0.92], sensitivity = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.77, 0.94], specificity = 0.75 [95% CI: 0.59, 0.76]). Patients' age group and operator type were identified as potential sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, particularly in mild TBI cases and studies implementing a ΔOD > 0.2 as the threshold for a positive NIRS result. NIRS proves to be an effective diagnostic tool for detecting traumatic intracranial hematoma in both pediatric and adult groups, with high sensitivity and specificity. Its utility in prehospital triage, operated by physicians or paramedics, underscores its potential for broader clinical application.

Association between Age and Patients’ Perceptions of Safety in Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

AimThis study aimed to explore patients' perceptions of factors contributing to patient safety during hospitalization for COVID-19, with a focus on differences among three distinct adult age groups. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from 533 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in nine Brazilian university hospitals between April and December 2021. Sociodemographics, health conditions, and the Patient Measure of Safety (PMOS) data were gathered via telephone interviews. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to compare the mean scores across PMOS items, domains, and total scores by age groups (18-44; 45-64; and 65+ years). ResultsPatients aged 45 to 64 years reported the highest perception of safety, while those aged between 18 to 44 years reported the lowest. Statistically significant differences in safety perceptions were observed across age groups. The younger adult group (18-44 years) reported lower overall PMOS scores, particularly in areas such as equipment, access to resources, and organization and care planning, compared to the middle-aged group. Younger adults were more critical of aspects including attentiveness to patient concerns, availability of health professionals, space, and equipment, teamwork skills, and information sharing between the healthcare team and patients. ConclusionPerception of factors contributing to patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic varied across different age groups. Understanding these differences can inform the development of targeted strategies to incorporate patient perspectives into hospital safety initiatives, indicators development, and research to improve patient safety in hospital settings.

Ginger beers fermented with fruits: Chemical and sensory characterization and effects on target colonic microbial groups of vegan adults

Ginger beers fermented with fruits: Chemical and sensory characterization and effects on target colonic microbial groups of vegan adults

The association of financial resources and loneliness among older adults during a state of emergency.

This study focuses on the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020 in the United States to assess how liquidity constraints were related to loneliness among older adults. Data are from the COVID Impact Survey, which was used to collect data in April, May and June 2020 across the U.S. (n = 5,664). We use means comparison tests and linear regressions and find that emergency savings, rather than household income, predict loneliness among older adults during the initial COVID-19 wave. Emergency savings, especially enough to avoid using credit cards, was most predictive of older adult loneliness levels. Income and access to emergency savings did not influence the relationship between actions taken and personal plans changed as a result of COVID-19. Easing lockdown restrictions was unrelated to the relationship between loneliness and liquidity constraints, actions taken and personal plans changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest that, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness associated with the actions taken to avoid COVID-19 and personal plans changed was experienced across all socio-economic groups of older adults in this sample in similar ways, regardless of income levels and wealth. In addition, a better understanding of loneliness in older age during the COVID-19 pandemic may require a fuller analysis of households' financial situation beyond income, and points to the central role of credit card debt for loneliness in older age.

Influence of two strength training modalities (hypertrophy vs. contrast training) on muscular strength, bone health parameters and quality of life in a group of older adults with low skeletal muscle mass index

Influence of two strength training modalities (hypertrophy vs. contrast training) on muscular strength, bone health parameters and quality of life in a group of older adults with low skeletal muscle mass index

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review Using the COnsensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Checklist.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended to measure the impact of a health condition or intervention effectiveness as they aim to capture what is most meaningful to patients. Several PROMs are used to evaluate pelvic organ prolapse (POP)-related domains, yet the measurement properties of these instruments have not been fully explored with a rigorous analysis of the methodological quality and quality of evidence. To conduct a systematic review reporting on the measurement properties of PROMs used for the assessment of POP-related domains in accordance with the COSMIN guidelines. Five databases were searched from inception to December 2023. Studies were eligible if they involved (1) at least one group of female adults diagnosed with or presenting with symptoms of POP; (2) a self-reported outcome measure (PROMs, questionnaires) to evaluate POP-related domains; and (3) at least one measurement property. Methodological quality and measurement quality were assessed using the COSMIN risk of bias (ROB) checklist and the COSMIN criteria for good measurement properties. A total of 13 PROMs were included. The BIPOP had the lowest ROB for Content Validity. The POP-SS was the only PROM with sufficient evidence of adequate construct validity and responsiveness to be used in both surgical and conservative management settings. This original work identified a gap in evidence regarding the measurement qualities of identified PROMs used in the POP population.

Outcomes in Patients With Henoch-Schönlein Purpura After Kidney Transplantation: A Propensity Score Matched Study.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in upto 3% of cases, necessitating kidney transplantation (KT). This study compared graft and patient survival outcomes between HSP and non-HSP KT recipients and identified factors associated with HSP recurrence. Data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) were analysed for adult and paediatric KT patients listed between January 2005 and April 2021. HSP recipients were extracted from the database and non-HSP recipients were selected and propensity-matched 3:1 based on demographic factors. A total of 371 KT recipients with HSP were matched to 1113 non-HSP recipients. When stratified by age, adult and paediatric HSP patients showed similar death-censored graft survival (DCGS) at 5 years compared to their non-HSP counterparts. Furthermore, paediatric patients with HSP had comparable DCGS to adult HSP patients at 5 years (86.5% vs. 88.3%, p = 0.221). Amongst HSP recipients, 27.2% experienced recurrence, with higher rates in adults (29.7%) compared to children (13.0%). Recurrent HSP was associated with increased graft failure and mortality. Regression analysis showed that older age (OR [95% CI]: 1.018 (1.001-1.035), p = 0.037) was associated with a higher risk of recurrence, while a higher BMI (0.95 [0.91-0.99], p = 0.020) was linked to a lower risk. In a contemporary cohort of HSP KT patients, graft survival was comparable between HSP and matched non-HSP patients in both adult and paediatric groups. However, graft loss was more frequent in HSP patients who experienced disease recurrence.