Lower Disease Incidence Research Articles

Lower incidence of new-onset heart disease following covid-19 compared to viral pneumonia despite more echocardiography

Abstract Background Studies have shown an increased risk of cardiac disease and dysfunction following COVID-19. However, it remains unknown whether infection with COVID-19 differs from other viral pneumonias with respect to subsequent incident heart disease. Purpose To determine the incidence of heart disease and use of cardiac procedures in patients following a diagnosis of COVID-19 compared to other viral pneumonias. Methods In a retrospective, observational study, we compared incidence rates for cardiac disease diagnosed after hospitalization with COVID-19 February-November 2020 versus hospitalization with viral pneumonia as the main diagnosis in 2018-2019. Data was obtained from The Norwegian Patient Registry and the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases, and linked with a unique national person identification number. We defined heart disease using ICD-10 codes and used Cox regression models to compare the hazard of first episodes of myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation/flutter, heart failure, ischemic disease, other cardiac disease, and total heart disease (any of these conditions). Patients were followed until 31 December 2020, with censoring on this date or a maximum of 274 days after hospital admission. Results Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020 (n = 2,359) were younger, mean 59 (SD 18) vs 69 (19) years, had fewer comorbidities, had fewer hospitalizations prior to the index hospitalization (0.5 (1.2) vs 0.9 (1.8)), were more frequently treated with respiratory support (14.2% vs 7.8%) and had higher in-hospital mortality (6.9% vs 2.3%) than patients hospitalized with viral pneumonia in 2018-2019 (n = 9,018). Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had a lower crude incidence of new total heart disease than those with viral pneumonia (56 [95%CI 48-65] vs 75 [95%CI 71-79] per 100,000 person-years). This difference persisted after adjusting for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity score (comprising age, sex, and 17 dichotomized comorbidities), hospital admission during the previous year, respiratory support, and a propensity score for being hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. other pneumonia: Hazard ratio (HR) 0.79 [95%CI 0.67-0.94], p = 0.006. Patients with COVID-19 more frequently underwent echocardiography: HR 1.41 [1.23-1.63], p = <0.001 (Fig. 1). Conclusion Following hospitalization for COVID-19, the incidence of total heart disease and heart failure was lower than for patients hospitalized with viral pneumonia, despite more frequent examinations with echocardiography.Figure 1

Impact of rice straw biochar in association with inorganic fertilizers and Trichoderma harzianum on charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) of maize

Phytosanitary regulations concerning pesticide residues are among the most important problems faced by today's agricultural environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to produce and characterize indigenously produced biochar from raw material based on rice straw. The biochar synthesized at 480°C, was used as amendment at different volumetric concentrations (3 and 6%), along with in-organic fertilizers for restricting the development of charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina), in maize (Zea mays L.) The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of rice straw biochar showed micro-cracks, rough texture, and intricately formed pores, thus showcasing the complex and porous nature of the rice straw biochar resulting from the pyrolysis process. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis confirmed its carbonaceous composition (approximately 54%), with the presence of functional groups like hydroxyl and carboxyl, as well as trace amounts of potassium, calcium, and silicon. Maize grown in soil amended with 6% biochar showed significant reduction in shoot and root weights (51.72 and 74.11%, respectively) when compared to 3% biochar amended soil in the presence of M. phaseolina. Our results revealed that 3% rice straw biochar and Trichoderma harzianum proved most effective for the management of charcoal rot as indicated by lowest disease incidence and disease severity (40%, each). Maize showed variable degrees of defense mechanisms activation in response to soil biochar amendments. Biochar application rate of 6% did generally not improve the maize dry biomass production and tolerance to charcoal rot. These findings will surely help us understand biochar-induced changes in physiology of maize and possible activation of defense response against M. phaseolina

Trichoderma koningiopsis Tk905: an efficient biocontrol, induced resistance agent against banana Fusarium wilt disease and a potential plant-growth-promoting fungus.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (FocTR4) is a devastating phytopathogen responsible for significant losses in banana production worldwide. Trichoderma and other biocontrol agents (BCAs) have been used as suitable disease control methods for banana Fusarium wilt. In this study, the endophytic T. koningiopsis Tk905 strain was isolated from the roots of dendrobe plants and identified utilizing morphological and molecular analyses. Antifungal activity tests revealed that Tk905 effectively inhibited mycelial growth with inhibition rates ranging from 26.52 to 75.34%. Additionally, Tk905 covered the pathogen mycelia, and spores were observed on or around the pathogen hyphae. The average root and shoot fresh weights and plant height, of Tk905-inoculated plants were significantly higher than those of the untreated plants. Furthermore, Tk905 treatment significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD), suggesting that Tk905 may enhance plant defence systems by activating their antioxidant mechanisms. Most importantly, Tk905-treated plants inoculated by three methods exhibited significantly lower disease incidence and severity than untreated plants. The protective effects of Tk905 against FocTR4 infection were not only observed in the early stages of infection but persisted throughout the experiment, suggesting that T. koningiopsis Tk905 can provide long-lasting protection against Fusarium wilt.

Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Lipid Composition in the Colaus-PsyColaus Study.

High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, increased HDL-cholesterol levels, and decreased triglycerides (TG), and total and LDL cholesterol levels. We aimed to assess the association of MD adherence at baseline with the lipid profile both cross-sectionally and prospectively in a sample of apparently healthy community-dwelling subjects. We conducted three cross-sectional studies using data from follow-ups 1 (FU1, 2009-2012), 2 (FU2, 2014-2017), and 3 (FU3, 2018-2021) of CoLaus|PsyCoLaus, a population-based sample from Lausanne, Switzerland. Dietary intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Two MD scores (Trichopoulou and Vormund) were computed, ranging from 0 (low) to 9 (high). In total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and TG were assessed. Incident dyslipidemia was defined as hypolipidemic treatment at FU2 or FU3. Overall, 4249 participants from FU1 (53.7% women, 57.6 ± 10.5 years, Trichopoulou 4.0 ± 1.5, Vormund 4.7 ± 1.9) were included. Neither MD score correlated significantly with the lipid markers and similar results were obtained according to the hypolipidemic status. Among the 3092 untreated FU1 participants with FU2 and FU3 data, 349 (11.3%) developed dyslipidemia by FU2 or FU3. No difference in MD scores was found between participants who developed dyslipidemia and those who did not (4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 4.0 ± 1.5 and 4.8 ± 1.8 vs. 4.8 ± 1.9 for Trichopoulou and Vormund, respectively, p > 0.05). Finally, no associations were found between MD score and lipid changes at 5 or 10 years. Contrary to other studies, adherence to MD at baseline did not show any significant effects on lipid composition/incident dyslipidemia in Colaus|PsyCoLaus participants.

The obesogenic environment and incident cardiovascular disease in The Maastricht Study

Abstract Background The built environment has been identified as an upstream determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in which neighborhood walkability and healthy food environments may promote increased physical activity and healthier dietary intake. Our aim is to determine if these neighborhood environments are associated with decreased incidence. Methods Data from 6,563 participants of The Maastricht Study and Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium between the ages of 40-75 without history of CVD were analyzed. Objective walkability was measured by the 7-component Dutch Walkability Index while the food environment was an aggregate score of available food outlets, within 1000m Euclidian buffers around residential addresses of participants. Perceived walkability was obtained from the Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale. Incident CVD was obtained from a follow-up questionnaire. A Cox regression analysis was performed with CVD morbidity time to event outcomes adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic covariates. Results Over a median follow-up of 7.2 years (1.0-12.0 years), 975 cases were reported. The most walkable neighborhoods were not associated with incident CVD for both perceived (HR: .80; 95% CI = .64, 1.00) and objective (HR: 1.14; 95% CI = .91, 1.43) neighborhood environment measures compared to those living in the least walkable neighborhoods. When considering individual CVD conditions, participants had statistically significant lower incidence of peripheral vascular disease in the highest perceived walkable neighborhoods (HR: .57; 95% CI = .41, .78). The healthiest food environments (HR: .84; 95% CI = .66, 1.06) were not related to incident CVD. Conclusions Objectively measured walkability and neighborhood food environment were not associated with overall incident CVD with participants in our study. We found perceived neighborhood walkability to be associated with lower incident peripheral vascular disease. Key messages • Research on the obesogenic environment should additionally be carried out in other regions to gain additional understanding of its effect on cardiovascular disease. • Further study on the impact of walkable environments on individuals with peripheral vascular disease should be considered to understand its effect with this population.

Gut bacterial consortium enriched in a biofloc system protects shrimp against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection

BackgroundShrimp cultured in a biofloc system (BFS) have a lower disease incidence than those farmed in a water exchange system (WES). Although a number of studies have reported that the gut bacterial community induced by BFS is highly associated with shrimp disease resistance, the causal relationship remains unknown. Here, the promotive roles of gut bacterial community induced by BFS in pathogenic Vibrio infection resistance and its potential micro-ecological and physiological mechanisms were investigated by gut bacterial consortium transplantation and synthetic community (SynCom) construction.ResultsThe BFS induced a more stable and resistant gut bacterial community, and significantly enriched some beneficial bacterial taxa, such as Paracoccus, Ruegeria, Microbacterium, Demequina, and Tenacibaculum. Transplantation of a gut bacterial consortium from BFS shrimp (EnrichBFS) greatly enhanced the stability of the bacterial community and resistance against pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus infection in WES shrimp, while transplantation of a gut bacterial consortium from WES shrimp significantly disrupted the bacterial community and increased pathogen susceptibility in both WES and BFS shrimp. The addition of EnrichBFS in shrimp postlarvae also improved the pathogen resistance through increasing the relative abundances of beneficial bacterial taxa and stability of bacterial community. The corresponding strains of five beneficial bacterial taxa enriched in BFS shrimp were isolated to construct a SynComBFS. The addition of SynComBFS could not only suppress disease development, but also improve shrimp growth, boost the digestive and immune activities, and restore health in diseased shrimp. Furthermore, the strains of SynComBFS well colonized shrimp gut to maintain a high stability of bacterial community.ConclusionsOur study reveals an important role for native microbiota in protecting shrimp from bacterial pathogens and provides a micro-ecological regulation strategy towards the development of probiotics to ameliorate aquatic animal diseases.1NpdyYjfCEzGqNeY6CWHQHVideo

Polyphenols from Mediterranean Plants: Biological Activities for Skin Photoprotection in Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Chronic Urticaria.

Polyphenols are a diverse class of natural compounds that are widely distributed in various fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and bring benefits in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Studies suggested that polyphenols may improve cardiovascular health and may have neuroprotective effects. The Mediterranean region is a vast area. Although the territory encompasses a wide variety of cultures and dietary patterns, there are some commonalities in terms of the plant-based foods and their polyphenol content. Such polyphenols have been studied for their potential photoprotective effects on the skin. We focused on nutraceutical effects of Mediterranean plants in skin photoprotection in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic urticaria. Results highlight the importance of exploring natural compounds for therapeutic purposes. The wide variety of polyphenols found in different foods and plants allows for a diverse range of pharmacological effects. The Mediterranean diet, rich in polyphenol-containing foods, is associated with a lower incidence of various chronic diseases, including dermatological conditions. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and optimal dosing of polyphenols, there is initial evidence to support their potential use as adjunctive therapy for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic urticaria.

Can non-participants in a follow-up be used to draw conclusions about incidences and prevalences in the full population invited at baseline? An investigation based on the Swedish MDC cohort

BackgroundParticipants in epidemiological cohorts may not be representative of the full invited population, limiting the generalizability of prevalence and incidence estimates. We propose that this problem can be remedied by exploiting data on baseline participants who refused to participate in a re-examination, as such participants may be more similar to baseline non-participants than what baseline participants who agree to participate in the re-examination are.MethodsWe compared background characteristics, mortality, and disease incidences across the full population invited to the Malmö Diet and Cancer (MDC) study, the baseline participants, the baseline non-participants, the baseline participants who participated in a re-examination, and the baseline participants who did not participate in the re-examination. We then considered two models for estimating characteristics and outcomes in the full population: one (“the substitution model”) assuming that the baseline non-participants were similar to the baseline participants who refused to participate in the re-examination, and one (“the extrapolation model”) assuming that differences between the full group of baseline participants and the baseline participants who participated in the re-examination could be extended to infer results in the full population. Finally, we compared prevalences of baseline risk factors including smoking, risky drinking, overweight, and obesity across baseline participants, baseline participants who participated in the re-examination, and baseline participants who did not participate in the re-examination, and used the above models to estimate the prevalences of these factors in the full invited population.ResultsCompared to baseline non-participants, baseline participants were less likely to be immigrants, had higher socioeconomic status, and lower mortality and disease incidences. Baseline participants not participating in the re-examination generally resembled the full population. The extrapolation model often generated characteristics and incidences even more similar to the full population. The prevalences of risk factors, particularly smoking, were estimated to be substantially higher in the full population than among the baseline participants.ConclusionsParticipants in epidemiological cohorts such as the MDC study are unlikely to be representative of the full invited population. Exploiting data on baseline participants who did not participate in a re-examination can be a simple and useful way to improve the generalizability of prevalence and incidence estimates.

Pulmonary mycobacteriosis: clinicalepidemiological profile of patients, treatment management, clinical outcome, and its species in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil (2013-2020)

This study aimed to describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients in the State of Mato Grosso, who were affected by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), treatment management, clinical outcomes, and the species most commonly isolated from clinical samples. Between 2013 and 2020, the study analyzed 37 medical records from the Health Pulmonology sector of the Reference Center for Medium and High Complexity and it searched the Laboratory Environment Manager (GAL) system of the Central Public Health Laboratory of Mato Grosso. Patients with mycobacteriosis were predominantly diagnosed with MAC complex (avium-intracellulare complex) (n= 23.6%), with an average age of 62 years old; 51.4% were male, Caucasian (62%), and predominantly immunocompetent (HIV-negative). Most patients with comorbidities were older adults, they had sequelae of previous tuberculosis (56.8%), they were smokers (62.2%), and they had a low body mass index (29.7%) due to weight loss. Other patients had bronchiectasis (81.1%) and cavitary lesions (48.6%), with a lower incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The municipalities with the highest rates of nontuberculous mycobacteria were Cuiabá (14 cases), Várzea Grande (five cases), Sinop (two cases), Nova Mutum (two cases), and Rondonópolis (two cases). This study presented data from the region, with a clinical, epidemiological profile, diversity of NTM species, and treatment management according to the patient’s response to the specific treatment of the identified Mycobacterium and various outcomes. KEY WORDS: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria; MAC complex Mycobacterium; comorbidities; tuberculosis; mycobacteriosis.

Alleviation of banded leaf and sheath blight disease incidence in maize by bacterial volatile organic compounds and molecular docking of targeted inhibitors in Rhizoctonia solani.

Rhizoctonia solani (RS) is a pathogenic fungus that affects maize (Zea mays L.) plants and causes banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) with severe consequences leading to significant economic losses. Contrarily, rhizobacteria produce numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that help in devising the environment-friendly mechanism for promoting plant growth and stress alleviation without having physical contact with plants. In the present study, 15 rhizobacterial strains were tested for their antagonism against RS. The antagonistic potential of VOCs of the tested plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains ranged from 50% to 80% as compared to the control (without PGPR). Among these 15 strains, the maximum (80%) antagonistic activity was exhibited by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes SRM-16. Thus, the potential of VOCs produced by P. pseudoalcaligenes SRM-16 to alleviate the BLSB disease in maize was evaluated. A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to observe the effect of VOCs on disease resistance of BLSB-infected seedlings. Overall, maize seedlings exposed to VOCs showed a significant increase in disease resistance as indicated by a reduced disease score than that of unexposed infected plants. The VOCs-exposed maize exhibited lower (11.6%) disease incidence compared to the non-inoculated maize (14.1%). Moreover, plants exposed to VOCs displayed visible improvements in biomass, photosynthetic pigments, osmoregulation, and plant antioxidant and defense enzyme activities compared to the healthy but unexposed seedlings. Simultaneous application of RS and VOCs enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities by 96.7%, 266.6%, 313.7%, 246.6%, 307%, and 149.7%, respectively, in the roots and by 81.6%, 246.4%, 269.5%, 269.6%, 329%, and 137.6%, respectively, in the shoots, relative to those of the control plants. The binding affinity of the VOCs (2-pentylfuran, 2,3-butanediol, and dimethyl disulfide) with CRZ1 and S9 protein receptors of RS was assessed by deploying in silico methods. Overall, 2-pentylfuran exhibited a binding affinity with both the selected receptors of RS, while 2,3-butanediol and dimethyl disulfide were able to bind S9 protein only. Hence, it can be deduced that S9 protein receptors are more likely the target RS receptors of bacterial VOCs to inhibit the proliferation of RS.

Antioxidant Interactions between Citrus Fruit Carotenoids and Ascorbic Acid in New Models of Animal Cell Membranes.

The regular consumption of citrus fruits by humans has been associated with lower incidence of chronic-degenerative diseases, especially those mediated by free radicals. Most of the health-promoting properties of citrus fruits derive from their antioxidant content of carotenoids and ascorbic acid (ASC). In the current work we have investigated the scavenging (against hydroxyl radical) and quenching capacities (against singlet oxygen) of four different carotenoid extracts of citrus fruits in the presence or absence of ASC (μM range) in organic solvent, aqueous solution, micelles and in an innovative biomimicking liposomal system of animal cell membrane (AML). The fruits of four varieties of citrus were selected for their distinctive carotenoid composition (liquid chromatography characterization): 'Nadorcott' mandarin and the sweet oranges 'Valencia late', 'Ruby Valencia' and 'Pinalate' mutant. The quenching activity of citrus carotenoids strongly depended on the biological assemblage: freely diffusible in organic solvent, 'Ruby Valencia' carotenoids (containing lycopene) showed the highest quenching activity, whereas 'Nadorcott' mandarin extracts, rich in β-cryptoxanthin, prevailed in micellar systems. Interestingly, the addition of 10 μM ASC significantly increased the quenching activity of all citrus extracts in micelles: 'Valencia' orange (+53%), 'Pinalate' (+87%), 'Ruby' (4-fold higher) and 'Nadorcott' mandarins (+20%). Accurate C11-BODIPY581/591 fluorescence assays showed solid scavenging activities of all citrus extracts against AML oxidation: 'Valencia' (-61%), 'Pinalate' (-58%) and 'Ruby' oranges (-29%), and 'Nadorcott' mandarins (-70%). Indeed, all four citrus extracts tested here have balanced antioxidant properties; extracts from the 'Nadorcott' mandarin slightly prevailed overall, due, at least in part, to its high content of β-cryptoxanthin. This study depicts some of the antioxidant interactions between citrus fruit carotenoids and ascorbic acid in models of animal cell membranes and reinforces the contribution of them in promoting health benefits for humans.

Rural-urban disparities in the incidence and treatment intensity of periodontal disease among patients with diabetes.

Diabetes threatens population health, especially in rural areas. Diabetes and periodontal diseases have a bidirectional relationship. A persistence of rural-urban disparities in diabetes may indicate a rural-urban difference in periodontal disease among patients with diabetes; however, the evidence is lacking. This retrospective study aimed to investigate rural-urban discrepancies in the incidence and treatment intensity of periodontal disease among patients who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the year 2010. The present study was a retrospective cohort design, with two study samples: patients with type 2 diabetes and those who were further diagnosed with periodontal disease. The data sources included the 2010 Diabetes Mellitus Health Database at the patient level, the National Geographic Information Standardization Platform and the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan at the township level. Two dependent variables were a time-to-event outcome for periodontal disease among patients with type 2 diabetes and the treatment intensity measured for patients who were further diagnosed with periodontal disease. The key independent variables are two dummy variables, representing rural and suburban areas, with urban areas as the reference group. The Cox and Poisson regression models were applied for analyses. Of 68,365 qualified patients, 49% of them had periodontal disease within 10 years after patients were diagnosed with diabetes. Compared to urban patients with diabetes, rural (HR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75-0.91) and suburban patients (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83-0.89) had a lower incidence of periodontal disease. Among 33,612 patients with periodontal disease, rural patients received less treatment intensity of dental care (Rural: RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.92; suburban: RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.95) than urban patients. Given the underutilization of dental care among rural patients with diabetes, a low incidence of periodontal disease indicates potentially undiagnosed periodontal disease, and low treatment intensity signals potentially unmet dental needs. Our findings provide a potential explanation for the persistence of rural-urban disparities in poor diabetes outcomes. Policy interventions to enhance the likelihood of identifying periodontal disease at the early stage for proper treatment would ease the burden of diabetes care and narrow rural-urban discrepancies in diabetes outcomes.

Integrated Disease Management (IDM) Modules against Karnal Bunt (Tilletia indica) of Wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belonging to family “Gramineae” and genus “Triticum”, is one of the world’s most widely cultivated food grain crop, due to its wider adaptability to different agro-climatic and soil conditions. Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) is an important wheat disease with implications for wheat grain quality and inflicts changes in chemical composition of infected grains. IDM modules evaluated under pot and field condition revealed that all the thirteen modules were significantly effective and observed lower disease incidence of karnal bunt. Module M11 andM8 recorded nil (0.00%) disease incidence in both condition. The maximum incidence was recorded (0.425%) and (0.81%) in M12 followed by M5 (0.395%) and (0.68%) whereas minimum incidence was observed in M9 (0.002%) and (0.05%) under pot and field respectively. However, in the field maximum yield (44.65 q/ha) and test weight (36.04 g) was recorded in module M11, followed by (44.30q/ha) and (35.91g) in M8, while, minimum yield (40.35q/ha) and test weight (35.30g) was observed in M12.

A comparative study of regional variations in common visual impairments among school-age children

<b>Purpose:</b> This study aims to examine the incidence and age-related prevalence of eye conditions among school-age children living in Moscow Region (Russian Federation) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).<br /> <b>Methods:</b> The study sample includes 573 visually impaired children aged 7-17 years (13.85±1.24 years) in Russian Federation and 600 children (13.78±1.11 years) in Saudi Arabia.<br /> <b>Results:</b> Myopia in Russian Federation was with a prevalence rate of 35.6%, followed by astigmatism (21.3%), strabismus (16.2%), conjunctivitis (13.6%), hyperopia (10%). The incidence of visual impairment was lower for children from Saudi Arabia compared to Russian Federation (OR=1.01, 95% CI [0.85-1.17] in 2018, OR=0.93, 95% CI [0.83-1.03] in 2022 in Saudi Arabia and OR=1.36, 95% CI [1.25-1.47] in 2018 vs. OR=1.33, 95% CI [1.23-1.43] in 2022 in Russian Federation). In Saudi Arabia, myopia occurred in 10% of cases at 7-10 years, 20% at 11-13 years, and 25% at 14-17 years.<br /> <b>Conclusion:</b> The satisfactory state of the health system in Saudi Arabia compared with Russian Federation has resulted in a lower incidence of visual diseases among children. The possible causes of the myopia prevalence are worse medical system in the Russian Federation compared to Saudi Arabia, and climate in both countries.

The Role of Exercise in Preventing and Managing Cardiovascular Diseases

Regular exercise has significant benefits for cardiovascular health and helps reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It improves myocardial function, enhances endothelial function, reduces systemic inflammation, impacts the autonomic nervous system, and leads to metabolic adaptations. Epidemiological and clinical studies consistently show an association between exercise and reduced cardiovascular risk, including lower incidence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, and improved lipid profile. Various organizations provide exercise guidelines, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities. Individualization of exercise programs based on health status and fitness level is important.

Quantitative analysis of rhizosphere microbial population obtained from main-croplands in South Sulawesi

The study aims to investigate microbial species and quantify population richness associated with main crop rhizosphere in South Sulawesi. Survey was conducted in two areas including healthy and infected croplands. In each area about 1 ha, samples were collected to consist of 250 g bulk soil of rhizosphere in healthy and infected farms 1 month after transplanting. For analysis, those samples were carried out at the Plant pathology Lab, Department Plant Pest and Disease, Faculty of Agriculture. 10 g bulk soil separation out of 250 g obtained from rhizosphere was sterilized into water 25 mL and sieved 50-100 mesh prior to transfer to growth medium. After that, 4 % (g/mL) potato dextrose agar (PDA) in the petri dish was earlier prepared. The soil mixture (1g/10 mL) was diluted and transferred into a series dilution and parallelly loaded into solid media kept in dark room with at room temperature. Microbiota successfully growing in the solid media were split and transferred into petridish contained PDA for morphological identification and quantified through a series dilution. The study found 23 native fungal isolates consisting of Genera: Rhizopus sp. Phytophthora sp., Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Geotrichum, Aspergillus sp., Gliocladium sp., Gongronella sp., and 14 unknown groups of fungi. Three bacterial isolates were discovered as gram-positive bacteria (GPB) in the infected cropland and the other two were gram-negative bacteria (GNB) found in healthy farm. The finding evidenced that population of microbiota ‘bacterial and fungal’ richness was twofold much higher in the healthy farm than infected farm. Bacterial population was the highest in both healthy and infected farms. There is a tendency of the higher fungal population richness, the lower rice disease incidence in croplands, vice versa.

Investigation and analysis of children's behavior and outpatient number of respiratory diseases in Shanghai before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveAlterations in behavioral habits of children were analyzed in Shanghai in the winters prior to and following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of assisting in the prevention of children's respiratory diseases in the post-pandemic era. MethodThis cross-sectional survey was conducted via an offline questionnaire from January 1 to February 28, 2021. The behavioral habits of Shanghainese children in different age groups during the winter of 2019 and 2020 were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 software. The parameters surveyed and analyzed included the frequency of outdoor activities, self-protection measures (frequency of wearing masks and washing hands after going out), travel history, time to visit since symptom onset, and influenza vaccination status. Lastly, the number of cases of respiratory diseases in the pediatric outpatient department of our hospital was analyzed during the same period. ResultA total of 1816 questionnaires were investigated and analyzed, and the results revealed that self-protection measures were significantly enhanced in children of all age groups after the COVID-19 pandemic breakout compared with those before the pandemic, whereas the frequency of outdoor activities and traveling were reduced. In the age group over 3 years old, the time to visit since symptom onset was shorter, and the influenza vaccination rate increased following the pandemic. During the same period, the number of cases of children with respiratory diseases in our outpatient department was significantly decreased compared with that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on self-protection measures, outdoor activities, and other children's behaviors in all age groups in Shanghai. These changes in habits were correlated with a lower incidence and transmission of respiratory diseases in children. Overall, this study lays a theoretical basis for the prevention of childhood illnesses in the post-pandemic era.

Trends in smoking-related diseases by socioeconomic position following a national smoking ban in 2007: a nationwide study in the Danish population

BackgroundNational comprehensive smoke-free legislation has been found to decrease the incidence of several smoking-related diseases. In 2007, Denmark introduced a national smoking ban, which banned smoking indoor in workplaces and public places, although only partial restrictions were applied in certain settings. We examined the impact of the smoking ban on smoking-related diseases and whether this differed across socioeconomic groups.MethodsInterrupted time series analyses of nationwide register data were performed using Poisson regression models to examine the differential impact of the smoking ban on monthly incidence rates of acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking-related cancers from 2002 to 2015. Immediate changes in incidence rates after the smoking ban and long-term changes in disease trends were estimated by comparing data from the pre- and post-ban period. Models were stratified by socioeconomic position.ResultsOverall, we found neither immediate changes in rates of acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking-related cancers following the smoking ban nor long-term post-ban changes in disease trends as compared to before the ban. Results did not differ across socioeconomic groups. A pronounced socioeconomic gradient in incidence rates was observed for all outcomes both before and after the smoking ban.ConclusionThe national smoking ban was not associated with a lower incidence of smoking-related diseases in the post-ban period compared to pre-ban levels and no differences between socioeconomic groups were observed. Future tobacco control in Denmark should consider which measures most effectively target the low socioeconomic groups to decrease the current strong socioeconomic inequality in health.

Age-specific incidence of joint disease in paediatric patients with haemophilia: A single-centre real-world outcome based on consecutive US examination.

Joint health is one of the most important factors contributing to a healthy life in patients with haemophilia. Recent study revealed that starting early prophylaxis was not enough to prevent joint disease in most paediatric patients with haemophilia. In this study, we aimed to determine the age-specific incidence of acute joint disease during childhood at single haemophilia treatment centre (HTC). The joint health in 48 patients was evaluated based on consecutive US testing for 5 years at annual multidisciplinary comprehensive care. During the study period, 23 patients (47.9%) had no joint disease since the initial examination, whereas 13 patients (27.0%) showed development from negative to positive findings. The incidence of joint disease increased with age: 0% in preschool, 5.3% in elementary school, 14.3% in junior high school and 35% beyond high school age. Among the 13 patients who developed joint disease, two experienced acquired synovitis that resolved during the follow-up period. Statistical analysis revealed that the patients who routinely underwent follow-up by the HTC exhibited a significantly lower incidence of joint disease than did those followed up at other institutions (p<.001). These results indicated that close check-up, including routine joint examination using US as well as frequent assessment of pharmacokinetic profile at the HTC, might play an important role in avoiding joint disease among paediatric patients with haemophilia.

Associations of polygenic inheritance of physical activity with aerobic fitness, cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases: the HUNT study.

Physical activity (PA), aerobic fitness, and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) are highly heritable multifactorial phenotypes. Shared genetic factors may underlie the associations between higher levels of PA and better aerobic fitness and a lower risk for CMDs. We aimed to study how PA genotype associates with self-reported PA, aerobic fitness, cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. PA genotype, which combined variation in over one million of gene variants, was composed using the SBayesR polygenic scoring methodology. First, we constructed a polygenic risk score for PA in the Trøndelag Health Study (N = 47,148) using UK Biobank single nucleotide polymorphism-specific weights (N = 400,124). The associations of the PA PRS and continuous variables were analysed using linear regression models and with CMD incidences using Cox proportional hazard models. The results showed that genotypes predisposing to higher amount of PA were associated with greater self-reported PA (Beta [B] = 0.282 MET-h/wk per SD of PRS for PA, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.211, 0.354) but not with aerobic fitness. These genotypes were also associated with healthier cardiometabolic profile (waist circumference [B=-0.003cm,95% CI= -0.004, -0.002], body mass index [B=-0.002kg/m2,95% CI = -0.004, -0.001], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [B = 0.004 mmol/L,95% CI= 0.002, 0.006]) and lower incidence of hypertensive diseases (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.97,95% CI= 0.951, 0.990), stroke (HR = 0.94,95% CI= 0.903, 0.978) and type 2 diabetes (HR = 0.94, 95 % CI =0.902, 0.970). Observed associations were independent of self-reported PA. These results support earlier findings suggesting small pleiotropic effects between PA and CMDs and provide new evidence about associations of polygenic inheritance of PA and intermediate cardiometabolic risk factors.