Population Studies Research Articles

Nervi rei publicae: local governments as economic populists?

ABSTRACT This article introduces a novel Mixed Populism Indication approach to the study of economic populism in the democratic polity to examine populism at the level of local government in the Czech Republic. In particular, we apply quantitative methods to a financial data of 5804 local government units sample to assess economic populism. This quantitative selection is developed on the principles of financial analysis, which form the basis of the algorithm we propose to process financial data. This is followed by an in-depth, qualitative evaluation of election results and the spatial context of suspected cases. From the results for the municipal environment, we identify populism as strategy used by some local governments. As a part of this strategy, local authorities target outsiders (non-residents) who own property. Although this policy of hostility to outsiders goes against the rational economic interests of the residents, they support this policy in local elections. Finally, this article argues that local political leaders in small municipalities act as populists in shaping tax policy.

Morphometric Study of the Algerian Dromedary Population Reguibi (Camelus dromedarius L. 1758)

Background: The morphometric study of the Algerian dromedary population, specifically the Reguibi breed (Camelus dromedarius), involves analyzing various physical measurements and characteristics of these camels. Morphometric studies aim to understand the phenotypic diversity within a population, which can provide insights into their adaptation, genetic variability and potential for selective breeding or conservation efforts. Methods: This study used 60 live dromedaries from the Tindouf slaughterhouse in Algeria’s extreme southwest. The animals, 30 males and 30 females, were adults over the age of five years old who grazed in Tindouf’s southwestern regions. After four measurements, the substernal void index and live weight were calculated. Result: The mean live weights for males were 507.9 kg ± 97.3 kg and 445.6 kg ± 63 kg for females. The average withers height was 1.94±0.10 m for males and 1.84±0.10 m for females. The findings were compared to previous studies on Sahraoui, Targui and Steppe Camels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the Reguibi population in this region.

Operational Definitions of Poly-Victimization: A Scoping Review.

Throughout the last two decades, research on poly-victimization (PV) has evolved from examinations of a core set of past-year victimization types in youth samples to investigations of a broad range of victimization types experienced during variable time intervals in diverse samples of varying ages. As the concept of PV expands, greater clarity regarding the definition and measurement of PV is needed to advance understanding of its risk and protective factors as well as its associated outcomes. This scoping review aimed to (a) identify approaches used to operationally define and measure PV across studies and (b) synthesize empirical findings concerning risk factors and outcomes associated with PV. A systematic search of peer-reviewed research published before 2022 across 12 databases yielded 98 studies that met inclusion criteria. Study characteristics including the research design, sample type, victimization timeframe, operational definition(s) of PV, measurement of PV, analytic methods, and key findings were synthesized across studies. Findings indicated that the majority of reviewed studies were cross-sectional investigations that utilized categorical measures of lifetime PV in samples of youth. Results also demonstrated that PV is robustly associated with a broad range of predictors, including mental health symptoms and diagnoses as well as family- and community-level factors. PV is also associated with numerous adverse outcomes including depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance use, and delinquency across diverse study types and populations. Future research that examines the conditional effects of PV is needed to identify subgroups of individuals at higher risk of adverse outcomes following PV and modifiable targets for interventions.

P163 Low uveitis rates in patients with axial spondyloarthritis treated with bimekizumab: pooled results from phase 2b/3 trials

Abstract Background/Aims Acute anterior uveitis (‘uveitis’) is a common extra musculoskeletal manifestation of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Interleukin (IL)-17 has been implicated in uveitis pathogenesis; however, inhibition of IL-17A alone may not be optimal for uveitis management. We report the incidence of uveitis following IL-17A and IL17F inhibition with bimekizumab (BKZ) in patients with axSpA. Methods Data were pooled for patients randomised to placebo (PBO) or BKZ 160mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) in the double-blind treatment period (DBTP) of the phase (ph)3 studies BE MOBILE 1 (NCT03928704; non-radiographic axSpA) and 2 (NCT03928743; radiographic axSpA [i.e. ankylosing spondylitis]). Data were also pooled for all patients treated with BKZ in BE MOBILE 1, BE MOBILE 2, BE MOVING (NCT04436640; open-label extension [OLE] of BE MOBILE 1 and 2), the ph2b study BE AGILE (NCT02963506; r-axSpA) and its OLE BE AGILE 2 (NCT03355573; data cut-off 4 July 2022). Uveitis events were identified using the preferred terms “autoimmune uveitis,” “iridocyclitis,” “iritis” and “uveitis,” and are reported as exposure adjusted incidence rates (EAIRs) per 100 patient-years (PY) for all patients who received ≥1 BKZ dose. Results Baseline characteristics of the axSpA study populations are shown in the Table. In the DBTP of BE MOBILE 1 and 2, uveitis events occurred in 11/237 (4.6%; EAIR/100 PY [95% CI]: 15.4 [7.7, 27.5]) and 2/349 (0.6%; 1.8 [0.2, 6.7]) patients randomised to PBO and BKZ (percentage difference [95% CI]: 4.1 [1.7, 7.6]), respectively. In 45 PBO-randomised (19.0%) and 52 BKZ-randomised (14.9%) patients with history of uveitis, uveitis occurred in 20.0% (EAIR/100 PY [95% CI]: 70.4 [32.2, 133.7]) and 1.9% (6.2 [0.2, 34.8]) of patients, respectively. In the ph2b/3 pool (N = 848) total BKZ exposure was 2,034.4 PY and 130 (15.3%) patients had history of uveitis. Uveitis occurred in 25 (2.9%; EAIR/100 PY [95% CI]: 1.2 [0.8, 1.8]) and 14 (10.8%; 4.6 [2.5, 7.7]) patients overall and with history of uveitis, respectively. All uveitis events were mild/moderate; one led to discontinuation. Conclusion Incidence of uveitis was lower to Week 16 in patients with axSpA randomised to BKZ 160mg Q4W versus PBO and remained low at 1.2/100 PY in the largest ph2b/3 pool. Disclosure M. Rudwaleit: Consultancies; AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis and UCB Pharma. Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. M.A. Brown: Consultancies; Clementia, Grey Wolf Therapeutics, Incyte, Ipsen, Pfizer, Regeneron and Xinthera. Member of speakers’ bureau; Novartis and Pfizer. Grants/research support; UCB Pharma. F. van Gaalen: Grants/research support; Jacobus Stichting, Novartis, Stichting ASAS, Stichting Vrienden van Sole Mio and UCB Pharma. Other; fees from Novartis; personal fees from AbbVie, BMS, Eli Lilly and MSD. N. Haroon: Consultancies; AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis and UCB Pharma. L.S. Gensler: Consultancies; AbbVie, Acelyrin, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. Grants/research support; Novartis and UCB Pharma paid to institution. C. Fleurinck: Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. A. Marten: Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. U. Massow: Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. N. de Peyrecave: Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. T. Vaux: Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. K. White: Shareholder/stock ownership; UCB Pharma. Other; Employee of UCB Pharma. A. Deodhar: Consultancies; AbbVie, BMS, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MoonLake, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. Member of speakers’ bureau; Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer. Grants/research support; AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, MoonLake, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. D. McGonagle: Consultancies; AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. Honoraria; AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma. Grants/research support; AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen, Merck and Pfizer. I. van der Horst-Bruinsma: Consultancies; Abbvie, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis and UCB Pharma. Other; unrestricted grants received for investigator-initiated studies from AbbVie, MSD, Pfizer and UCB Pharma; fees received for lectures from AbbVie, BMS, MSD and Pfizer.

Ethical considerations for nurse practitioners conducting research in populations with opioid use disorder.

People with opioid use disorder (OUD) are a vulnerable population who face unique risks of harm when participating in research. Despite a long-standing dialogue, written research codes of ethics, and institutional review board oversight for the conduct of ethical research in vulnerable populations, protections for study populations with OUD is rarely mentioned. Nurse practitioners who conduct research using participants with OUD, especially when recruiting their own patients (i.e., dual role), must be aware of the unique ethical considerations necessary to protect their patients and participants from increased risks. This article explores vulnerabilities and influences that can affect participant recruitment and consent, imbalances in the distribution of risk and benefits to participants participating in research, and the concerns of coercions, undue influence, and unjustifiable pressure contributing to vulnerabilities. Strategies to reduce the risks of influences that are of concern in the vulnerable population of research participants with opioid disorder are suggested. The goal of this article was to raise awareness of the unique potential risks of harm when using people with OUD as research participants and to explore strategies to minimize potential risks of various levels of influence in this vulnerable population.

The Great Debate: Robotic vs Traditional Surgical Approach in the Acute Care Setting.

Robotic surgery was first introduced in the 1980s as a system to aid patients in the battlefield. Since then, robotic surgery has become an important minimally invasive tool and plays an important role in elective surgery among various surgical specialties. However, the role for robotic surgery in the emergent setting is not well established or studied. Robotic surgery has been shown to be advantageous to both patients and operating surgeons. Though limited, studies have found robotic surgery in the acute setting to be safe for patients. These studies found robotic surgery to have improved perioperative outcomes when compared to an open or laparoscopic approach. Additionally, the robotic platform is thought to be an effective tool to prevent conversion to open procedures in emergent settings. Although some studies demonstrate advantages to robotic acute surgery, others have shown increased complications with robotic acute surgery or no distinct advantage when comparing robotic to laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, some of the published papers supporting the use of robotic surgery in the emergent setting may have a degree of bias favoring the robotic platform. Robotic surgery is a mainstay in minimally invasive elective surgery and gaining popularity among patients and surgeons. There are pros and cons to the adaptation of the robotic platform in the acute care setting. Additional large population studies are indicated to determine the true role of the robotic platform in the emergent setting.

P052 Rheumatoid arthritis associated risk of venous thromboembolism is not dependent on disease duration: United Kingdom-based population study

Abstract Background/Aims Risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to the general population; however, whether this risk changes with RA disease duration remains poorly understood. Acknowledging potential heterogeneity in risk by RA duration could support more tailored screening and effective preventive approaches. In a large population-based study, we aimed to characterise the RA-attributable VTE risk in patients with varying disease durations. Methods Adults registered with a general practice from January 1999 to December 2018 were identified from the Royal College of General Practitioners Research (RCGP) and Surveillance Centre (RSC) primary care database. RA patients (diagnosed prior to and during the study period), VTE outcome (as a composite of pulmonary embolism [PE] or deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) and individual PE and DVT outcomes were determined using previously validated algorithms. RA-unaffected controls (UCs) were matched 4:1 with RA patients by current age, sex, calendar time, and years since practice registration using nearest neighbour matching with replacement. Absolute VTE, PE and DVT rates over 20 years were compared in RA patients versus matched UC across four subgroups defined by disease duration (0-2, 2-5, 5-10 and ≥10 years since diagnosis). Across the same subgroups, relative risks over the same period were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical features and established VTE risk factors (body-mass index [BMI], smoking status, alcohol use, evidence of reduced mobility, thrombophilia, fracture of the lower limb and family history of VTE). Results 117,050 individuals were included, of whom 93,640 were UCs and 23,410 were RA patients. Among those with RA, 63.9% were included at or within two years of diagnosis, 7.8% within two to five years of diagnosis, 9.8% within five to ten years of diagnosis, and 18.5% more than 10 years after diagnosis. Average study follow-up for the primary outcome (VTE) was 8.2 years (standard deviation [SD]=6.6 years). RA patients (mean age 59.0, SD 15.5; 28.9% male [n = 6776]; mean BMI 27.1, SD 5.6) were similar to matched UCs in clinical characteristics. Unadjusted VTE events rates were consistently higher in RA patients compared to UCs across all subgroups. Relative risk of VTE was similarly increased in RA patients compared to the general population regardless of the time elapsed since RA diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratios [aHR] range: 1.49-1.63, all p < 0.001). The results obtained when PE (aHR range 1.46-2.02, all p < 0.001) and DVT (aHR range 1.43-1.89, all p < 0.001) were analysed separately were similar to those observed in the composite outcome. Conclusion Healthcare professionals should recognize that individuals with RA face a consistently elevated VTE risk compared to the general population, irrespective of disease duration. This highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and assessment of VTE risk factors even in early-stage cases. Disclosure J. Galloway: Honoraria; JG has received honoraria from Abbvie, Biovitrum, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Sobi and UC. V. Basey: Corporate appointments; Pfizer employee. S. Rana: Corporate appointments; Pfizer employee. S. de Lusignan: Grants/research support; SdeL has received funding through his universities from Eli Lilly, GSK, Astra Zeneca, MSD, Sanofi, Seqirus, Takeda and Moderna. Other; Director of the RCGP RSC. M.H. Buch: Consultancies; M.H.B. has provided expert advice and received/paid to employer consultant fees from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, EMD serono, Gilead, Pfizer and Sanofi. Grants/research support; M.H.B. has received research grants paid to her employer from Gilead Ltd, Pfizer Ltd, Roche and UCB.

NBR1-dependent autophagy activation protects against environmental cadmium-evoked placental trophoblast senescence

Cadmium (Cd), a well-established developmental toxicant, accumulates in the placentae and disrupts its structure and function. Population study found adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by environmental Cd exposure associated with cell senescence. However, the role of autophagy activation in Cd-induced placental cell senescence and its reciprocal mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we employed animal experiments, cell culture, and case-control study to investigate the above mentioned. We have demonstrated that exposure to Cd during gestation induces placental senescence and activates autophagy. Pharmacological and genetic interventions further exacerbated placental senescence induced by Cd through the suppression of autophagy. Conversely, activation of autophagy ameliorated Cd-induced placental senescence. Knockdown of NBR1 exacerbated senescence in human placental trophoblast cells. Further investigations revealed that NBR1 facilitated the degradation of p21 via LC3B. Our case-control study has demonstrated a positive correlation between placental senescence and autophagy activation in all-cause fetal growth restriction (FGR). These findings offer a novel perspective for mitigating placental aging and placental-origin developmental diseases induced by environmental toxicants.

Populism Versus Nativism: Socio-Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Emotional Predictors

Previous research on predictors of populism and nativism has predominantly focused on socio-economic (e.g., education, employment, social status), and socio-cultural explanations (e.g., social identity and social status). In recent years, however, the role of negative emotions has become increasingly important in the study of populism and related concepts. In the current study, we examined two distinct negative emotions: anxiety and anger. We collected survey data from participants in 15 European countries ( N = 7,726) and tested three sets of measures reflecting different explanations, economic (e.g., education), socio-cultural (e.g., social identity), and emotional in predicting populist attitudes (compromising items on anti-elitism and people-centrism) and nativism. We tested these different predictors using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of our basic SEM models show that negative emotions (anxiety and anger) predict both populist attitudes (people-centrism and anti-elitism) and nativism. In particular, anxiety predicts anger, which in turn predicts both populist attitudes and nativism. In our advanced SEM models, people-centrism was predicted by anger and social identity, whereas nativism was predicted by anger, anxiety, social identity, and education. Our study shows that negative emotions (anger, anxiety) are much better predictors of populist attitudes and nativism than mere socio-economic and socio-cultural factors.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Invasive Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Burkina Faso.

Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel is a highly invasive horticultural pest that is of major economic importance worldwide. In Burkina Faso, it is one of the main insect pests that affects the production and exportation of mangos. Understanding the biology and the genetic dynamics of this insect pest provides crucial information for the development of effective control measures. The aim of this study was to understand the distribution, diversity, and genetic structure of B. dorsalis in Burkina Faso. Male flies were collected transversally in Burkina Faso and analyzed by PCR using 10 microsatellite markers. The results showed an abundance of B. dorsalis varying from 87 to 2986 flies per trap per day at the different sampling sites. The genetic diversity was high at all sites, with an average Shannon's Information Index (I) of 0.72 per site. The gene flow was high between study populations and ranged from 10.62 to 27.53 migrants. Bayesian admixture analysis showed no evidence of structure, while Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components identified three weakly separated clusters in the population of B. dorsalis in Burkina Faso. The results of this study could be used to optimize the effectiveness of current control interventions and to guide the implementation of new, innovative, and sustainable strategies.

Prevalence of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Serving Military and Veteran Populations: A Systematic Review.

Serving military personnel and veterans are known to be at elevated risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and some veterans have been shown to respond poorly to current standard treatments. Evidence so far suggests that according to the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems guidelines, complex PTSD (CPTSD) may be of higher prevalence in the general population than PTSD. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of CPTSD compared to PTSD in serving and ex-serving military populations. A systematic review was conducted with the search criteria set to peer-reviewed English language journal articles, focusing on serving military or veteran populations, reporting on the prevalence of CPTSD, not restricted by year. Four comprehensive databases (Psycinfo, Pubmed, CINAHL, and Embase) were searched. Of the 297 identified articles, 16 primary studies were eligible for inclusion. The review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023416458), and results were reported based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Of the 16 studies, 13 demonstrated higher prevalence of CPTSD than PTSD. Studies were predominantly veteran focused. Prevalence of CPTSD ranged from 5% to 80.63%, while prevalence of PTSD ranged from 3.8% to 42.37%. There was high heterogeneity in study populations, preventing meta-analysis. This is the first systematic review to assess the prevalence of CPTSD in serving military and veteran populations, with the findings demonstrating a higher rate of CPTSD compared to PTSD. It is hoped that the review will assist clinicians and military and veteran health services with appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for those affected by CPTSD, as well as PTSD.

The State of Oncology Care in Russia: Localization Structure Features, Quality of Recording, and Survival of Cancer Patients in the Major Age Groups of the Population (population study). Part 6

Malignant neoplasms are considered among the most serious and prevalent diseases in many countries worldwide. In the course of our research, we conducted a review where we synthesized findings from five scientific articles providing detailed descriptions of age-related patterns of prevalence, structure, and survival among oncology patients. The final population-based study presents a culmination of all identified characteristics of this process, particularly regarding the role of age in the characteristics of prevalence and survival of cancer patients, which holds significant importance. The study utilized data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), handbooks from the P. A. Herzen MNIOI and the N. N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, as well as data from population-based cancer registries databases from the Saint Petersburg and Northwestern Federal District of Russia. Data processing was conducted using licensed software MS Excel 2013–2016 and STATISTICA 6.1. Modified Eurocare software, alongside mathematical, bibliographic, and statistical methods, was employed for survival calculations. The population-based study allowed for a detailed examination of the dynamics of age-specific indicators of morbidity, mortality, quality of initial patient management for MN, and survival rates of MN patients, consolidating vast datasets from across Russia and the Northwestern Federal District of Russia. All gathered and analyzed data indicate an enhancement in the quality of initial patient management for MN, a reduction in mortality rates, and an increase in survival rates.

Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio an important marker of worse outcome in Covid-19: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian population

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a pandemic with high morbidity and mortality. Several studies on the use of laboratory markers that can differentiate patients at high risk of death associated with COVID-19 or with an unfavourable course from mild to severe disease have been proposed recently. In this study, we evaluated hematological parameters of 1369 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 from a unique center of Brazil and correlated with disease severity. Patients were divided into two groups according to their clinical outcome: death or hospital discharge. The absolute number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were statistically significant between the two groups, with p<0.001. There was no statistical relevance between the platelet/lymphocyte ratio and the clinical evolution of the studied patients. Thus, our results reinforce the data described in previous studies that NLR can be an important marker of unfavourable clinical evolution in Covid -19.

The state of cancer care in Russia: liver cancer – (C22). Age-related characteristics of morbidity and mortality, quality of registration, effectiveness of patient treatment. (clinical population study). Part 1

A clinical-population study was conducted to identify patterns in the dynamics of incidence, mortality, and patient accounting for liver cancer in Russia, as well as the specifics of changes in the structure of affected individuals by detailed localization and age. Over an 11-year period, the incidence of liver cancer in Russia increased by 24.4%, while mortality rose by 9.6%. Special attention was paid to the nature of changes in age-specific incidence and mortality rates for the population of Russia with liver cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of key parameters of incidence, mortality, and the quality of primary patient accounting for liver cancer at the population level in Russia and the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation. The study results confirmed the severity of the problem of this pathology and the challenges associated with the timely detection and provision of adequate care to patients with liver cancer. In some territories, the mortality rate from liver cancer exceeded the number of newly diagnosed patients by 2–3 times. The impact of the coronavirus infection pandemic on the quality of registration of liver cancer patients was also assessed. The study also presented modern possibilities for early diagnosis and treatment of patients with liver cancer.

A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Caries in the Permanent Teeth of Children and Adolescents.

This systematic review critically evaluates the association between serum Vitamin D levels and dental caries incidence in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. The search strategy comprised three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase), up to November 2023, targeting studies on the correlation between Vitamin D and dental caries in permanent dentition. The eligibility criteria focused on observational studies involving children and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years with permanent dentition. The screening process, guided by the PRISMA guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment, resulted in the inclusion of eight studies conducted across various global regions from 2013 to 2023. The analysis revealed that Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were prevalent among the study populations, ranging from 17.3% to 69.4%. Specifically, children and adolescents with Vitamin D insufficiency (<50 nmol/L) were found to have significantly higher odds of developing caries, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.13 to 2.57. Conversely, two studies indicated a protective effect of higher Vitamin D levels, with an OR of 0.80 and 0.59, respectively, for caries among children and adolescents with serum levels ≥ 50 nmol/L, suggesting an inverse relationship between Vitamin D status and caries risk. The results indicate both the protective role of adequate serum levels of Vitamin D above 20 ng/mL and the increased risk associated with insufficient levels below this threshold. However, the variations in study quality, methodologies and geographic settings underscore the challenges in drawing universal conclusions. Despite these limitations, our review suggests that improving Vitamin D status could be a beneficial component of preventive strategies against dental caries in children and adolescents, warranting further research to clarify the clinical significance of our findings.

Chronic Neck Pain Prevalence Before and After COVID-19 Restrictions and Its Relationship With Digital Device Screen Viewing: A Population Study.

To estimate the prevalence of chronic neck pain (CNP) among the adult population in Peru during the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restriction period compared with that during the pre-pandemic period and evaluate its association with prolonged digital devices connected to the internet (DDCI) screen viewing. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a representative sample of adults living in Peru in November 2022. A structured survey was employed to identify CNP, and the exposure variable was set as the duration of DDCI screen viewing. The McNemar test was used to compare CNP prevalence pre- and post-COVID-19 restrictions, and ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate its association with prolonged screen viewing. A total of 1,202 individuals participated, with 52.8% females and 79.9% residing in urban areas. Following the restrictions, the prevalence of CNP occurring daily or almost daily and at least once a week was 14.8% and 27.8%, respectively (95% confidence Interval [95% CI], 12.6-17.3 and 24.9-30.9), representing a significant increase (p<0.001) compared with pre-pandemic estimates. Notably, among those viewing DDCI screens for ≥8 hours, the odds ratio for CNP frequency escalation compared with those who did not or rarely view screens was 1.61 (95% CI, 1.04-2.50; p=0.033). Approximately 4 of 10 adults in Peru experienced CNP following the lifting of COVID-19 social restrictions, more than double the pre-pandemic prevalence. Furthermore, prolonged viewing of DDCI screens increased the risk of having this condition.

The effect of colchicine on cancer risk in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a time-dependent study based on the Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database

BackgroundTo determine the effect of colchicine on cancer risk in patients with the immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs)-related to colchicine use.MethodsThis is a time-dependent propensity-matched general population study based on the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. We identified the IMIDs patients (n = 111,644) newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)—274,712, 135, 136.1, 279.49, 518.3, 287.0, 696.0, 696.1, 696.8, 420, 429.4, 710.0, 710.1, 710.3, 710.4, 714.0, 720, 55.0, 55.1, 55.9, 556. Inclusion criteria: aged ≧ 20 years, if a patient had at least these disease diagnosis requirements within 1 year of follow-up, and, these patients had at least two outpatient visits or an inpatient visit. After propensity-matched according to age, sex, comorbidities, medications and index date, the IMIDs patients enter into colchicine users (N = 16,026) and colchicine nonusers (N = 16,026). Furthermore, time-dependent Cox models were used to analyze cancer risk in propensity-matched colchicine users compared with the nonusers. The cumulative cancer incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional regression analysis. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, and use of medicine including acetylcysteine, medication for smoking cessation such as nicotine replacement medicines (the nicotine patch) and pill medicines (varenicline), anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressant drugs.ResultsComparing the colchicine nonusers, all cancer risk were mildly attenuated, the (aHR (95% CI)) of all cancer is (0.84 (0.55, 0.99)). Meanwhile, the colchicine users were associated with the lower incidence of the colorectal cancer, the (aHRs (95% CI)) is (0.22 (0.19, 0.89)). Those aged < 65 years and male/female having the colchicine users were associated with lower risk the colorectal cancer also. Moreover, the colchicine > 20 days use with the lower aHR for colorectal cancer.ConclusionColchicine was associated with the lower aHR of the all cancer and colorectal cancer formation in patients with the IMIDs.

The Association between Untreated and Treated Hearing Loss and Cognitive Performance in Men and Women Aged 60-96 Years: Data from the Swedish "Good Aging in Skåne" Population Study.

Background/Objectives: Recent decades have witnessed a sharp increase in research investigating the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. Few previous studies have stratified for sex when investigating this issue, where results were inconsistent and require further clarification. Thus, the objective was to investigate the association between self-reported hearing loss and levels of cognitive impairment, stratified for sex. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 2001 to 2016. The study sample consisted of 5075 individuals, 2325 (45.8%) men, mean age 68.3 years, and 2750 (54.2%) women, mean age 70.0 years. Multiple variate ordinal regression models were constructed and adjusted for age, marital status, education, physical activity, depressive mood, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and use of sedatives to investigate associations between groups of self-reported untreated and treated hearing loss and those reporting no hearing loss in relation to levels of cognitive impairment assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination scale. Results: In men, treated hearing loss was associated with levels of cognitive impairment, odds ratio (OR) = 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-2.36. In women, both untreated hearing loss, (OR = 1.45, CI 1.07-1.98) and treated hearing loss (OR= 1.46, CI 1.06-2.04) were associated with levels of cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Hearing loss was found to be associated with cognitive impairment despite hearing aid use as well as awareness amongst physicians. The introduction of screening programs for hearing loss in older adults could be a crucial step for earlier identification of individuals at higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia.

Remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apoB absolute mass changes explain results of the PROMINENT trial

Background and aimsThe PROMINENT trial, a cardiovascular outcome trial of the triglyceride- and remnant cholesterol-lowering agent pemafibrate, has shown neutral results despite reduction in plasma triglycerides and remnant cholesterol. We tested the hypothesis that absolute mass changes in remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B explain the results of the PROMINENT trial. MethodsAmong 108,431 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS), those who met the key inclusion criteria of the PROMINENT trial were analyzed to mimic the trial design. Endpoint atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and coronary revascularization as defined in PROMINENT. ResultsIn the PROMINENT trial, treatment with pemafibrate resulted in -7 mg/dL (−0.18 mmol/L; -18 %) change in remnant cholesterol, +10 mg/dL (+0.26 mmol/L; +12 %) LDL cholesterol, and +5 mg/dL (+0.05 g/L; +5 %) apolipoprotein B. In the CGPS mimicking PROMINENT, the estimated hazard ratios for ASCVD were 0.97 (95 % confidence interval: 0.94–0.99) for a -7 mg/dL (−0.18 mmol/L) change in remnant cholesterol, 1.04 (1.01–1.07) for a +10 mg/dL (+0.26 mmol/L) change in LDL cholesterol, and 1.02 (1.01–1.03) for a +5 mg/dL (+0.05 g/L) change in apolipoprotein B. When combining absolute changes in remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, the estimated hazard ratio for ASCVD was 1.05 (0.96–1.14) in the CGPS mimicking PROMINENT compared to 1.03 (0.91–1.15) in the PROMINENT trial. ConclusionsAbsolute mass changes in remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B can explain results of the PROMINENT trial. The 3 mg/dL (0.08 mmol/L) higher total atherogenic cholesterol together with 5 mg/dL (0.05 g/L) higher apolipoprotein B seem to explain the trend toward more ASCVD in the pemafibrate arm.

Monitoring HPV Prevalence and Risk Cofactors for Abnormal Cytology in the Post-Vaccination Period among Croatian Women.

The incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Croatia remains a health challenge despite screening efforts. Besides the persistent infection with HPV, the development of cancer is also associated with some cofactors. The goal of this study was to assess circulating HPV genotypes and risk factors for the development of cervical precancer after almost 16 years from the onset of HPV vaccination in Croatia. In this study, a total of 321 women attending gynecological care were evaluated. Relevant medical and demographic information, including cytology, were collected. HPV genotyping was performed by PCR. Comparing the HPV types found in circulation in the pre-vaccination (1999-2015) and post-vaccination periods (2020-2023), a statistically significant reduction in HPV 31 was noted, while the overall prevalence increased in the post-vaccination period. Besides the expected HPV positivity as a risk factor, the history of smoking was associated with LSIL or worse cytology at enrollment. For the first time, this population study revealed a statistically significant shift in the HPV genotype in the post-vaccination period, as well as the confirmation of risk factors for the development of abnormal cytology among Croatian women.