Cross-sectional Pilot Study Research Articles

Which frailty scale better predicts dysphagia in older adults? Cross-sectional pilot study

Which frailty scale better predicts dysphagia in older adults? Cross-sectional pilot study

Quality of biological night-time regeneration and socioeconomic factors, health behaviors and body composition among middle-aged women: a cross-sectional pilot study

Background: Sleep has both immediate and long-term impacts on health. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the quality of biological night-time regeneration, socio-economic status, health behaviors, nutritional status, and fat tissue distribution among adult women (n=46, aged 45-65 years). Material and methods: Socio-economic and lifestyle data were collected through a questionnaire, while anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard instruments. Statistical analyses were performed using the STATISTICA software package. Results: The study found no significant associations between socio-economic status, and the frequency of well-slept (participants satisfied with night-time regeneration) or sleep-deprived (respondents dissatisfied with night-time regeneration) individuals. However, an increased frequency of beer consumption was associated with dissatisfaction with night-time regeneration. There was no significant relationship between BMI categories and fat distribution types in relation to self-reported sleep sufficiency. Nonetheless, the analysis indicated that both BMI and WHR were higher in women who reported dissatisfaction with night-time regeneration compared to those who reported satisfaction. The trends suggest that women with higher education, white-collar occupations, residing in large cities, and consuming weak alcoholic beverages reported poorer sleep quality more frequently. This pattern is associated with a higher risk of excessive weight and central fat distribution, potentially due to increased psychosocial stress. Conclusions: Further research is necessary to verify these trends and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Association of first-line combination antiretroviral therapy with malaria among adult HIV-infected persons in Jos, Nigeria: a pilot cross sectional study

BackgroundMalaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection coexist in significant numbers in some geographic areas including sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). HIV-infected patients are a World Health Organization (WHO) recognized high risk group for increased malaria morbidity. Majority of HIV-infected patients undertaking treatment in SSA are on WHO recognized first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Considering the immunity-enhancing capacity of antiretroviral therapies on people living with HIV, this study aimed to explore the association between first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with malaria parasitaemia and antigenaemia in adult HIV-infected persons and to determine the predictors of malaria antigenaemia in adult persons living with HIV.MethodsThe study was conducted at the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Centre, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, from August 2018 to February 2019. Epi Info statistical tool was used to determine the sample size and power of the study. The study population consisted of three groups. The first group comprised first-line cART-experienced adult HIV-seropositive subjects, the second group comprised ARV-naïve HIV-seropositive adults and the third group comprised HIV-seronegative adults. For this pilot study, 60 persons were recruited into each group via convenience sampling. Malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was performed according to manufacturer’s instruction for all the study participants using SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f (HRP2/pLDH) (Standard Diagnostics, Hagal-Dong, Korea). All the study participants also had thick and thin blood film malaria microscopy. Data collected was processed and analyzed using the Stata statistical software version 15 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas). Chi square was used to test the association between malaria and first-line cART exposure. Univariate and multivariate analysis were also done to identify factors that were independently associated with malaria antigenaemia.ResultsA total of 180 persons participated in the study and involved 60 participants recruited in each of the three study groups. Overall, the predominant study participants were females (56.67%), traders (27.78%), secondary school leavers (43.33%) and urban dwellers (88.89%). Their mean age and standard deviation was 37.07 ± 11.53 years. Using malaria microscopy, the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in ARV-naïve HIV-infected persons was 5% and 0% in the first-line cART-experienced HIV-infected persons as well as the HIV-negative persons. Malaria RDT result was positive in 7/60 (11.67%) of the first-line cART experienced HIV-infected participants, 6/60 (10%) of the ARV-naïve HIV-infected group and 1/60 (1.67%) of the HIV-negative group. Of the seven positive malaria RDT results in those on first-line cART, five persons were receiving zidovudine/lamivudine/nevirapine (AZT/3TC/NVP) while the remaining two were receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/efavirenz (TDF/3TC/EFV), thus making an antigenaemia proportion of 16.67% and 6.67% respectively. Being an HIV-infected person on first-line cART (OR = 16.20, p = 0.04), having a headache (OR = 6.21, p = 0.03) and non-usage of window nets (OR = 3.74, p = 0.05) were found to be predictors of malaria antigenaemia.ConclusionMalaria parasite burden in HIV-infected persons on first-line cART is lower than that observed in ARV-naïve HIV-infected persons. Our study suggests that TDF/3TC/EFV may be associated with lower malaria antigenaemia when compared with AZT/3TC/NVP and can be considered an alternative first-line antiretroviral regimen in malaria-endemic regions.

Psychometric Assessment of Anxiety Measures in a Pilot Study of African American Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

African American patient populations are disproportionately diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to non-Hispanic white adults. Research suggests a link between OSA and anxiety. However, OSA and anxiety symptoms may present differently across minority groups. Research examining the reliability and validity of measures used to assess anxiety symptom severity in African American patient populations living with OSA is needed. This pilot study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety short form and the longer State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) in a sample of African American adults recently diagnosed with OSA. In this cross-sectional pilot study, 32 African American patients newly diagnosed with OSA were recruited from an academic sleep medicine clinic in the Southeastern United States to complete survey measures. Participants completed the 6-item PROMIS Anxiety short form and 20-item STAI-S. Cronbach's alphas assessed the internal reliability of measures, and concurrent validity between measures was assessed using correlation coefficients (rs). Both PROMIS Anxiety and STAI-S showed excellent internal consistency with Cronbach's α ≥.90. The PROMIS Anxiety T-scores and STAI-S scores were positively moderately correlated with each other (rs = .68; p < .0001), indicating concurrent validity. These results illustrate that both the PROMIS Anxiety and STAI-S scales have strong internal reliability in this sample of African American adults with co-occurring OSA and prediabetes. The brief PROMIS Anxiety short-form measure is validated to the longer STAI measure in this sample. An advantage of the PROMIS Anxiety scale is that it has a lower participant burden when completing questionnaires, contributing to a more refined approach to diagnosis and management when both OSA and anxiety coexist. These findings also underscore the importance of validating psychometric measures in marginalized populations, such as African Americans, who have historically been underrepresented in psychometric research.

Quality of Life of Malaysian Older Adults of Indian Community: A Pilot Study

Background: Quality of life (QOL) among the geriatric population is a global concern as it reflects the status of health and of wellbeing. Aims: Aims of this pilot study to assess the quality of life and its associated factors among older adults of Malaysian Indian community living in urban areas. Settings and Design: A community based cross sectional pilot study, using convenience sampling technique was conducted from April 2024 to May 2024, among 30 older adults in a urban town, Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Quality of life scale developed through the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to collect data, about quality of life and socio-demographic details were also collected. Statistical Analysis: The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 and p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The highest average quality of life score, 3.6762±1.10, was in the psychological health domain and the lowest was in the physical health domain, 3.3714±0.31. The scores of the other two domains were moderate, that is, the social relationship score was 3.5111±0.48 and the environment score was 3.4000±0.83. Conclusion: The quality of life score among the elderly was moderate, while in the domain of psychological health, the quality of life score was found to be high. The quality of life scores of the social relations and environmental domains were moderate while the quality of life scores of the physical health domain were the lowest. Lifelong education that includes, the importance of understanding physical health activities, and environmental changes and improvements in social relationships can help in improving the quality of life among the elderly of the Indian community in the city of Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia.

Exploring exhaled breath volatile organic compounds in occupational asthma: a pilot cross-sectional study

Occupational asthma (OA) is divided into allergic asthma (AA) and irritant-induced asthma (IIA). IIA can be divided further into three different phenotypic subtypes. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath can reflect metabolic changes in the body, and a wide range of them have been associated with various diseases in the last two decades. This is the first known study to explore breath VOCs in subjects with OA, aimed to identify potential biomarkers to distinguish OA from healthy controls, as well as between different OA subgroups. In a cross-sectional investigation, exhaled breath from 40 patients with OA and 45 respiratory healthy healthcare workers were collected with ReCIVA® Breath Sampler. Samples were analyzed through an untargeted approach using thermal desorption-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), and VOCs were identified according to tier classification. The data underwent analysis using both non-parametric and parametric statistical methods. 536 VOCs were identified. Significance (p<0.05) was observed in several emitted VOCs. Among these, compounds such as 1-hexadecanol, 2,3-butanediol, xylene, phenol, acetone, 3-methylhexane, methylcyclohexane, and isoprene have biological implications or are associated with exposures linked to OA. These VOCs may reflect metabolic changes in the body and the microbiome, as well as external exposures due to occupation.&#xD;In particular, 1-hexadecanol, 2,3-butanediol, xylene and phenol are associated with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mechanisms that can be linked to asthmatic diseases and therefore suggests its potential as biomarkers. This study demonstrates that VOCs detected in exhaled breath could serve as indicators of occupational exposure and enhance diagnostic accuracy for asthma.&#xD.

Body Composition, Nutritional Status, and Socio-Demographic Factors Among University Students and Teachers in Bangladesh: A Pilot Study

BackgroundBody composition, particularly visceral fat content, is regarded as an important determinant of major metabolic disorder. People with similar BMI could have differential body fat and muscle composition with different metabolic outcome. Epidemiological research largely focuses on BMI or relative body weight across the range of height and waist hip ratio (WHR) as a index of central body shape; however, body composition has hitherto given little importance in Bangladesh. Therefore, we designed a small pilot cross sectional study to assess anthropometrics, the body composition by bioelectrical impedance and nutritional status and its differences among students and teacher of Islamic University, Bangladesh. MethodsA total of 133 participants (median age of 22.51±3.86 years), students and teachers, were recruited. In addition to BMI and waist-hip ratio (WHR), a body composition analyzer (based on bioelectrical impedance) was used to determine the body composition parameter. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, T test and Pearson correlations were done. ResultsConsiderable differences were observed among various age groups and genders. Most of the respondents had a higher metabolic age (definition) than the chronological age, and 42.86% had high fat percentage. Male had lower body fat (19.56% vs 26.29%) but more visceral fat (4.96% vs 4.32) than female. Visceral fat was significantly (p<0.001) raised in older age groups than younger ones (10.26% vs 4.33%, P<0.05). The cut-off values of BMI were normal in range for both genders, and WHR for male and female were 0.83 and 0.81 respectively. Body protein, muscle, water, moisture, and abio-salt content were higher at the age of 40 years, and female respondents had the lowest ones compared to males. ConclusionUnhealthy visceral fat was higher in male and older age group. A healthy level of all body composition parameters was observed in young age groups compared to the older ones.

Associations between Sleep Duration and Autonomic Nervous System Regulation in Patients with Probable Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships between sleep duration and autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. This cross-sectional pilot study included 27 older patients with probable Alzheimer's disease who were hospitalized at a psychiatric center. We measured heart rate variability to assess ANS regulation at night, evaluated dementia severity via the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and obtained sleep duration data from sleep diaries maintained by psychiatric nurses. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures generalized linear models with age, sex, dementia severity, hypertension status, and medication use (antipsychotics) as covariates. A sleep duration of 6-9 h per night compared to shorter than 6 h was associated with a greater increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity (p = 0.03), and a sleep duration longer than 9 h was associated with a decrease sympathovagal balance (p = 0.02). In addition, we observed an inverted U-shaped association between sleep duration and ANS regulation. In this pilot study, we demonstrated that a sleep duration of 6-9 h per night may be beneficial for ANS regulation; however, the present study involved only a few participants and had some limitations. Additional research with a larger cohort is needed to confirm these findings.

Use and feasibility of a Lynch Syndrome predictive model for inherited colorectal and endometrial cancer in a low-middle income country.

While universal tumor testing for Lynch Syndrome (LS) is recommended in all new diagnoses of colorectal cancer (CC) and endometrial cancer (EC), the cost and availability of this test in low-resource settings poses challenges. The PREdiction Model for gene Mutations (PREMM5) is a clinical algorithm designed to assess the risk of an individual carrying estimates one's risk of carrying a LS mutation. This study aims to assess the feasibility of using PREMM5 to screen for LS risk in Guatemala. This cross-sectional pilot study enrolled 50 patients with colorectal or endometrial cancer receiving treatment at LIGA-INCAN, a cancer hospital in Guatemala City, between June 2022-July 2022. Patients were contacted by phone and administered the PREMM5 survey, followed by an additional feasibility questionnaire. Of the 50 participants, 62% of patients had a PREMM5 predicted probability of ≥ 2.5%, the threshold above which genetic testing is recommended. Almost all patients found the survey easy to complete (98%), were able to easily recall personal (90%) and family (88%) medical history, understood its purpose (94%), and reported an interest in (96%) and ability to (98%) act on the results if applicable. Our study shows the role of the PREMM5 as a feasible tool for identifying individuals at risk of carrying mutations associated with LS in this low-resource setting. By implementing the PREMM5 model, high risk individuals can be identified early, enabling timely interventions and improving outcomes in this at-risk population.

Abstract A064: Patient-provider trust and immigration experiences and h. pylori knowledge among Asian Americans

Abstract Background: Asian Americans experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. However, there persists limited awareness about H. pylori infection and the associated factors among this population. Methods: To assess the level of H. pylori-related knowledge and its association with immigration and provider-related factors, we conducted a cross-sectional pilot study involving 131 Asian American individuals aged 30-75 in the greater Philadelphia and NYC areas. Participants administered a questionnaire covering topics including migration experiences, provider characteristics, medical encounters, and other relevant covariates. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the relationship between these factors and H. pylori knowledge scores. Results: Among all participants, 78% (102/131) were not racially concordant with their PCP, and 39% (51/131) had limited English proficiency. Vietnamese participants had the highest mean H. pylori knowledge score (10.8, SD: 1.4), followed by Chinese (7.2, SD: 4.7) and Korean (5.7, SD: 4.4). In the crude model, racial concordance with PCPs showed a positive relationship (IRR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14–1.56) with knowledge scores, while length of immigration demonstrated a weak negative relationship (IRR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99). In the adjusted model, personal health experiences (aIRR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.10–1.54) and patient-provider communication (aIRR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.43–2.06) as key determinants of H. pylori knowledge. Conclusion: H. pylori knowledge in Asian Americans is influenced by immigration experiences and the trust between patients and providers, which affects information exchange, medical comprehension, and treatment adherence. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving H. pylori knowledge within the Asian American community should prioritize fostering trust between patients and their healthcare providers. This trust serves as a crucial foundation for facilitating informed decision-making and implementing preventive measures against gastric cancer. Citation Format: Zhiqing E. Liu, Jerry Kai-Chun Fu, Wenyue Lu, Phuong Do, Kathy Zhou, Ellen Kim, Yin Tan, Lin Zhu, Grace X. Ma. Patient-provider trust and immigration experiences and h. pylori knowledge among Asian Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A064.

Reliability, Objectivity, Validity, and Reference Levels of the Austrian Pole Climbing Test (APCT)-A Novel Monitoring Tool for Assessing General Fitness in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.

Climbing is an activity involving many major muscle groups and, therefore, it is suitable for assessing general physical fitness. The Austrian pole climbing test (APCT) was developed as a reliable and valid test for the assessment of general fitness levels in children, adolescents, and young adults. In this cross-sectional pilot study, 677 participants (aged 6 to 19 years) were assessed via the APCT. Subsequently, test quality criteria (reliability and objectivity) were assessed, and the test's validity was evaluated through comparisons with other established fitness tests (hand grip strength, standing long jump, and pull- and push-ups). Additionally, age- and gender-specific reference values were generated. The reliability (ICC2.1 = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95 to 0.98) and objectivity (ICC2.1 = 0.99, 95%CI 0.99 to 0.99) of the APCT were found to be excellent. The APCT results correlated strongly with the hand strength per kilogram of body weight (right: r = 0.58; left: r = 0.53), number of pull-ups (with upper grip: r = 0.74; with lower grip: r = 0.69) and standing long jump (r = 0.61); a moderate correlation with the push-up test was observed (r = 0.44). The APCT is reliable, objective, and suitable for children, adolescents, and young adults with an affinity for sports. It offers a novel opportunity to assess fitness without time pressure, considering the anthropometric requirements.

Exploring General Practitioners' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards E-Cigarette Use/Vaping in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study in Sydney.

(1) Background: The increasing use of e-cigarettes/vaping in children and adolescents has been recognised as a global health concern. We aim to explore the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of General Practitioners (GPs) in Sydney regarding the use of e-cigarettes in children and adolescents and identify the barriers to addressing this issue. (2) Methods: This pilot study was a cross-sectional study conducted using an electronic questionnaire with a Likert scale and free-text responses. (3) Results: Fifty-three GPs participated in the study (male = 24 and female = 29) with a mean age of 50 ± 5.5 years. There was strong agreement (mean 4.5) about respiratory adverse effects and addictive potential. However, there was less awareness of cardiac side effects and the occurrence of burns. There is a lack of conversation about e-cigarettes in GP practice and a deficit of confidence in GPs regarding managing e-cigarette use in children and adolescents. (4) Conclusions: Our pilot study has shown that GPs are somewhat knowledgeable about the potential adverse effects of the use of e-cigarettes in children and adolescents, though there is a lack of knowledge of the complete spectrum of adverse effects and more importantly, there is a paucity of a structured approach to discuss the use of e-cigarettes with children and adolescents, and there is a low level of confidence in addressing these issues. There is a need for educational interventions for GPs to increase awareness of the potential adverse effects of using e-cigarettes and build confidence in providing management to children and adolescents regarding the use of e-cigarettes.

Evaluation of the quality of life and the incidence of stress urinary incontinence in nulliparous women training selected sports: a cross-sectional survey pilot study

IntroductionThe number of women suffering from urinary incontinence is increasing every year. The most common type of this condition is stress urinary incontinence. Involuntary leakage of urine occurs when sneezing, coughing, laughing, and standing up, as well as during physical activity. The problem of urinary incontinence is very embarrassing for athletes and affects their sports performance. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of urinary incontinence symptoms in women regularly training in selected sports.Methods64 women athletes were selected for the study. This pilot study involved women training in athletics (short-distance running, long-distance running, hurdles and jumping (high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault), basketball, volleyball, or strength sports). Women were selected based on sample size calculation from those training in specified clubs. Women who had given birth were excluded from the study. The subjects completed a proprietary questionnaire consisting of 8 questions. They also completed the Urinary Distress Inventory, Short Form (UDI-6SF) questionnaire and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Short Form (IIQ-7).ResultsIn this study, 43% of women who trained had symptoms of urinary incontinence. Regression analysis results with UDI-6SF and IIQ-7 total scores as dependent variables and age as an independent variable showed that the slopes of regression were not statistically significantly different (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;-value &gt; 0.05). The results of the analysis of the correlation between SUI (stress urinary incontinence) and age (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0247) and practiced sport (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0476) turned out to be statistically significant.ConclusionsThe type of sport practiced affects the occurrence of UI (urinary incontinence) symptoms in women. In this study, female athletes practicing strength sports had the greatest predisposition to the occurrence of UI symptoms. The occurrence of UI symptoms has little impact on the deterioration of the quality of life among women practicing selected sports.

Prevalence and Awareness on Diabetes and Risk Factors for Developing Diabetic Retinopathy Among Patients Attending Eye OPD: A Cross Sectional Pilot Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem worldwide. Diabetic patients may suffer from many complications including diabetic retinopathy, which may lead to blindness. Early identification and increasing the level of awareness regarding diabetes and diabetic retinopathy among individuals helps in reducing burden on healthcare and economic worldwide. The management of diabetes poses a challenge to the medical and nursing staff as well as to the patients themselves9. Objective: To assess the Prevalence and Awareness on Diabetes and Risk Factors for Developing Diabetic Retinopathy among patients attending Eye OPD. Materials and methods: A quantitative research approach with Hospital based cross sectional descriptive research design was used in this study. 125 patients were selected using convenient sampling technique and who fulfill the inclusion criteria of the study. Data was collected using self-reporting questionnaires for demographic variables, IDRS to Assess Prevalence of Risk For Diabetes, Clinical And Behavioral Data To identify various Risk Factor For Developing Diabetic Retinopathy and Structured Awareness Questionnaire For DM and DR. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 125 patients have given their consent and they were approached. The majority of participant were age group of 51-60 i.e. 41(32.8%) and 67(53.6%) were female. 94(75.2%) were Hindu and 87(69.6%) were belongs to nuclear family. A majority of the participant 92(73.6%) were married and 41(32.8%) are illiterate. Majority’s 57(45.6%) family income is between Rs 11837 – 17755 and 82(65.6%) were Unemployed whereas 102(81.6%) were Non-Vegetarian in their dietary habits. Of the 125 patients, 69(55.2%) were moderate risk for DM among which 52(41.6%) of patients were known case of DM. Study finding shows that Risk factors for developing diabetes retinopathy were history of diabetes with duration of 5 years or less and with type II DM, Physical Inactivity, history of cataract surgery, On insulin/Oral diabetic treatment, tobacco consumption, RBS (101-200mg/dl), level of cholesterol(200- 239 mg/dl) and urea level (26-35mg/dl). 83(66.4%) of participant had moderate awareness regarding DM and DR. Study findings also shown that there is a significant association between awareness with age, marital status, education, family income, knowledge on diabetic eye and frequency of eye check up. Study findings showed that there is a significant association between awareness with gender, religion, type of family, marital status and education were found significant at p&lt;0.05 Conclusion: A majority of the participant had moderate risk for DM as well as also had moderate awareness regarding DM. Health Education and promotion will also help to increase awareness regarding Diabetes in the country.

Feasibility of reaching populations at high risk for HIV in community pharmacies

BackgroundGrowing evidence has shown feasibility for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention service integration in pharmacies, including HIV testing and screening for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Yet, further work is needed to determine whether pharmacies can effectively reach those at increased risk of HIV transmission. ObjectiveWe aimed to describe the HIV risk profiles and willingness to obtain HIV prevention services from a sample of pharmacy clients. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional pilot study aimed to develop a culturally appropriate pharmacy-based PrEP delivery model among Black men who have sex with men. Two pharmacies were recruited from low-income, underserved communities and participants were recruited within pharmacies for screener and social and behavioral surveys. Individuals were grouped by PrEP eligibility due to sexual risk, injection drug use risk, or both, and demographic and willingness measures were compared. ResultsAmong 460 pharmacy clients, 81 (17.6%) would have been eligible for PrEP due to sex or injection drug use risk. Most were eligible due to sexual risk (58.0%), while a substantial proportion were eligible due to injection drug use (27.2%) or a combination of sexual and injection drug use risk behaviors (42.0%). Of these eligible, the median age was 31 years (interquartile range = 28.32) and most had ≥1 female (75.3%) or male (96.3%) partner in the past 6 months. There was high willingness to receive a free HIV test in a pharmacy (90.1%). Most were willing to screen for PrEP in a pharmacy (95.1%) despite these services not being available in the state where this study was performed. There were no differences in willingness to obtain pharmacy-based HIV prevention services across risk groups. ConclusionThis study shows that pharmacies in disadvantaged areas can serve a key role in preventing and decreasing the transmission of HIV by reaching populations with high HIV burden and providing HIV prevention services.

Carotid ultrasound to identify head and neck cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk after radiation therapy: rationale and design of a prospective, cross-sectional pilot study.

Background: Radiation therapy is an integral component of treatment that can predispose to carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and increase the risk of cerebrovascular events for head and neck cancer survivors. The utility of screening for CAS with carotid ultrasound in asymptomatic head and neck cancer survivors is unclear.Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional pilot study, 60 patients who have no evidence of cancer at least 2years from completion of RT will undergo screening carotid ultrasound to identify patients with high risk of cardiovascular events.Results: Outcomes will include clinically significant CAS, carotid intima-media thickness, acceptability/feasibility of screening, barriers to care and preliminary data on changes to medical management because of screening. Correlative multi-omics analyses will examine biomarkers of CAS after radiation therapy.Conclusion: The results of this study will provide valuable data on the prevalence of CAS and preliminary patient-centered data that will inform the design of a future large-scale, multi-site clinical trial.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05490875 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Can electroencephalography (EEG) identify the different dimensions of pain in fibromyalgia? A pilot study

BackgroundElectroencephalography (EEG) is a promising tool for identifying the physiological biomarkers of fibromyalgia (FM). Evidence suggests differences in power band and density between individuals with FM and healthy controls. EEG changes appear to be associated with pain intensity; however, their relationship with the quality of pain has not been examined. We aimed to investigate whether abnormal EEG in the frontal and central points of the 10–20 EEG system in individuals with FM is associated with pain’s sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational dimensions. The association between EEG and the two dimensions of emotional disorders (depression and anxiety) was also investigated.MethodsIn this cross-sectional pilot study, pain experience (pain rating index [PRI]) and two dimensions of emotional disorders (depression and anxiety) were assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (PRI-sensory and PRI-affective) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. In quantitative EEG analysis, the relative spectral power of each frequency band (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) was identified in the frontal and central points during rest.ResultsA negative correlation was found between the relative spectral power for the delta bands in the frontal (r= -0.656; p = 0.028) and central points (r= -0.624; p = 0.040) and the PRI-affective scores. A positive correlation was found between the alpha bands in the frontal (r = 0.642; p = 0.033) and central points (r = 0.642; p = 0.033) and the PRI-affective scores. A negative correlation between the delta bands in the central points and the anxiety subscale of the HADS (r = -0.648; p = 0.031) was detected.ConclusionThe affective-motivational dimension of pain and mood disorders may be related to abnormal patterns of electrical activity in patients with FM.Trial registrationRetrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05962658).

Screening for Small Airway Obstruction in Garment Industry: A Pilot Study

Abstract Aim and Background: A noticeable gap in the literature is observed in factors associated with the occurrence of respiratory illness among people working in garment industries. This study aims to investigate whether spirometry screening is warranted for individuals employed within the garment industry. Subjects and Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional pilot study conducted in asymptomatic workers of various sectors in a garment industry using spirometry to check for the presence of small airway obstruction. Duration of work along with the nature of work was taken into consideration to see if any correlation exists with the small airway obstruction. Results: A random sample of 40 asymptomatic individuals was drawn consisting of 16 males and 24 females with 47.5% of them working for around 5–10 years. Ninety-five percentage showed no evidence of small airway obstruction and only 5% showed small airway obstruction showing that no correlation exists between the duration of work and the development of small airway obstruction in the garment industry. Conclusion: There appears to be no significant link between the duration of employment in the garment industry and the development of small airway obstruction as compared to the textile/cotton industry, yet annual screening could be integrated into routine health assessments.

Dairy Farmers' Awareness of Vector-Borne Zoonotic Diseases: A Pilot Study.

Background: A quantitative cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to determine dairy farmers' general awareness of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, i.e., dengue fever and chikungunya fever caused by alphavirus and mosquito-borne flavivirus, as well as the relationship between these and other demographic variables such as gender and education level. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 farmers from the Wayanad district of Kerala were surveyed using a well-structured KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that farmers have inadequate knowledge and attitudes regarding chikungunya, as well as inadequate practices regarding dengue fever. Similarly, there is a significant correlation between gender and chikungunya fever awareness. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need to increase awareness of these diseases among dairy farmers and emphasizes the significance of conducting additional research on the area and population.

Decision Style Inventory Application in Parent/Guardian Vaccination Decision-Making: A Pilot Study

IntroductionCases of preventable diseases continue to occur globally. Much literature is present about barriers and factors that influence vaccination, but little is known about psychologically ingrained decision-making styles and their relationship with vaccination decisions. Design/MethodsThis quantitative descriptive cross-sectional pilot study aimed to explore using an established tool, the Decision Style Inventory (Rowe & Mason, 1987), in parents/guardians of children 2 months to 20 years old. ResultsNineteen parents/guardians participated in this study and provided positive feedback on the Decision Style Inventory (Rowe & Mason, 1987). Descriptive statistics revealed vaccination decisions occurred more frequently with certain decision styles. ConclusionsFurther research examining associations between decision styles and vaccination decisions is warranted. The findings of such research could lead to new tool development that integrates external factors and parental decision-making style. This new tool could allow healthcare providers to select targeted interventions that holistically address parental vaccination decisions.