Increasing Prevalence Rates Research Articles

Review and expert opinion on MAFLD, oxidative stress and multifunctional management.

Metabolic-associated fatty-liver disease (MAFLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most widespread and emerging chronic liver disease worldwide, with increasing prevalence rates also in the Asia-Pacific region. The disease has a high socio-economic burden as it negatively impacts the finances and quality of life of individuals affected and has a major burden on healthcare systems. The most important pathological event in MAFLD aetiopathogenesis is oxidative stress, which leads to functional and structural abnormalities in the liver as well as being involved in the development of other concomitant cardiometabolic diseases. MAFLD is a rather complex multisystemic clinical condition involving liver damage and a wide spectrum of extrahepatic manifestations such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. This complexity requires the cooperation of multiple experts to identify MAFLD at an early stage, treat associated comorbidities, and promptly refer the patient to the hepatologist when needed. This review summarizes the current knowledge about MAFLD and reports the opinion of a group of experts on the increasing prevalence and burden of the disease in the southeast Asia region, the current journey of patients with MAFLD in developing countries, the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant treatment, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and disease management. This article is part of the Current clinical use of silymarin in the treatment of toxic liver diseases: a case series Special Issue: https://www.drugsincontext.com/special_issues/current-clinical-use-of-silymarin-in-the-treatment-of-toxic-liver-diseases-a-case-series.

Advances in nano-based drug delivery systems for the management of cytokine influx-mediated inflammation in lung diseases.

Asthma, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and COVID-19 are few examples of inflammatory lung conditions that cause cytokine release syndrome. It can initiate a widespread inflammatory response and may activate several inflammatory pathways that cause multiple organ failures leading to increased number of deaths and increased prevalence rates around the world. Nanotechnology-based therapeutic modalities such as nanoparticles, liposomes, nanosuspension, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines can be used in the effective treatment of inflammatory lung diseases at both cellular and molecular levels. This would also help significantly in the reduction of patient mortality. Therefore, nanotechnology could be a potent platform for repurposing current medications in the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases. The aim and approach of this article are to highlight the clinical manifestations of cytokine storm in inflammatory lung diseases along with the advances and potential applications of nanotechnology-based therapeutics in the management of cytokine storm. Further in-depth studies are required to understand the molecular pathophysiology, and how nanotechnology-based therapeutics can help to effectively combat this problem.

Moisturizers for the treatment and prophylaxis of atopic dermatitis exacerbations

Atopic dermatitis is a global problem with increasing prevalence. Genetic predisposition to allergies, epidermal barrier dysfunction, and T2 immune response underlie atopic dermatitis. Xerosis, itchy skin, and exacerbation are the main atopic dermatitis symptoms, leading to increased permeability of allergens and microbes through the damaged epidermis and to the development of sensitization. The main purpose of atopic dermatitis therapy is to achieve long-term remission and improve quality of life. Topical treatment includes glucocorticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and emollients to reduce inflammation, xerosis, and infection prevention. Daily use of effective emollients as basic skin care can improve epidermal barrier function, provide skin hydration, and reduce the need for topical glucocorticosteroids.

Estimating the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment from clinical notes in U.S. Veterans

AbstractBackgroundIndividuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other dementia. Risk factors for dementia, such as obesity, stroke, depression are highly prevalent among U.S. veterans We report on the trends in the prevalence of MCI using clinical notes over the past 5 years in the Veteran Affairs, the largest integrated healthcare system in the U.S.MethodPrevalent cases of MCI were identified from VA clinical notes for all Veterans aged 50 years and older in VA care from fiscal years (FYs) 2015‐19. VA clinical notes are maintained in searchable text integration utility files (TIU) available in the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW). Pharmacy clinical notes were excluded. “Mild cognitive impairment” keyword was searched in clinical notes to identify patients with MCI. We validated the keyword “mild cognitive impairment” in 199 clinical notes. The positive predictive value for this validation was approximately 91%. For each FY, age and sex adjusted rates directly standardized to the 2010 U.S. Census general population were estimated.ResultA total of 308,930 prevalent cases of MCI were identified from VA clinical notes from FYs 2015‐19. Standardized prevalence rates for MCI increased steeply, with prevalence of 0.9% in FY 2015, increasing to 1.31% in FY 2019. Standardized age adjusted MCI prevalence rates also increased sharply for male (0.77% in FY 2015 to 1.10% in FY 2019) and female veterans (1.01% in FY 2015 to 1.50% in FY 2019) with rates higher for females than males for each FY.ConclusionWe observed recent trends of increasing prevalence rates for MCI among veterans identified from VA clinical notes. Considering the increased risk of dementia among individuals with MCI, our study finding of increasing prevalence of MCI among veterans highlights the critical need for effective interventions and treatment to target veterans with MCI.

Associations between School-Level Disadvantage, Bullying Involvement and Children's Mental Health.

Bullying is a modifiable risk factor for poor mental health across childhood and adolescence. It is also socially patterned, with increased prevalence rates in more disadvantaged settings. The current study aimed to better understand whether school-level disadvantage is associated with different types of bullying roles, and whether it is a moderator in the association between bullying and children's mental health. Cross-sectional data were used from 4727 children aged 6-11 years, from 57 primary schools across England and Wales. The child data included previous bullying involvement and bullying role characteristics (bully, victim, bully-victim, reinforcer, defender, outsider), and the teacher-reported data included each child's mental health (emotional symptoms and externalizing) problems. School-level disadvantage was calculated from the proportion of children in the school eligible to receive free school meals (an indicator of disadvantage). Children in more disadvantaged schools were more likely to report being bully perpetrators, bully-victims, and engage less in defending behaviors during a bullying incident. Children from more disadvantaged schools who reported bullying others showed fewer emotional symptoms than those from less disadvantaged schools. There was no other evidence of moderation by school-level disadvantage between bullying roles and emotional and externalizing problems. The findings highlight the potential for school-based interventions targeting children's emotional and social development, targeting bullying, and promoting defending behaviors, particularly in more disadvantaged settings.

A Multiscale Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Analysis of Neighborhood Correlates of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Women living in disadvantaged neighborhoods present with increased prevalence rates of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This study takes a spatiotemporal epidemiological approach to understand the impact of socioenvironmental contextual factors on TNBC prevalence rates. We analyzed 935 TNBC cases from a major cancer center registry, between 2005 and 2017, to explore spatial and space-time clusters of TNBC prevalence rates at the census tract and neighborhood scales. Spatial regression analysis was performed to examine relationships between nine socioenvironmental factors and TNBC prevalence rates at both ecological scales. We observed spatial clustering of high TNBC prevalence rates along a north-south corridor of Miami-Dade County along Interstate 95, a region containing several majority non-Hispanic Black neighborhoods. Among the ecologic measures, the percent of a region designated as a brownfield was associated with TNBC prevalence rates at the tract-level (β = 4.27; SE = 1.08; P < 0.001) and neighborhood-level (β = 8.61; SE = 2.20; P < 0.001). Our spatiotemporal analysis identified robust patterns of hot spots of TNBC prevalence rates in a corridor of several disadvantaged neighborhoods in the northern half of the county. These patterns of TNBC align with the literature regarding at-risk groups and neighborhood-level effects on TNBC; however, remain to be validated in a population-based sample. Spatial epidemiological approaches can help public health officials and cancer care providers improve place-specific screening, patient care, and understanding of socioenvironmental factors that may shape breast cancer subtype through gene-environment and epigenetic interactions.

Predictive Effect of System Inflammation Response Index for Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Non-Dialyzing Patient.

Scant research has been conducted on the interplay between the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study endeavors to meticulously scrutinize the association between SIRI and renal function. Additionally, we aim to assess its efficacy in predicting the progression of CKD in non-dialysis patients. Adult patients with CKD who were not undergoing dialysis were enrolled, and follow-up data were obtained. Data from distinct groups were extracted and meticulously compared. A comprehensive analytical approach was adopted, including logistic regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and subgroup analysis. Our study included 1420 patients, with a mean age of 61 ± 17 years, and 63% were male. 244 (17.2%) patients experienced the progression of CKD. As the level of ln(SIRI) increased, patients tended to be older, with a higher proportion of males, and increased prevalence rates of hypertension, stroke, heart failure, and progression of CKD. Additionally, the levels of baseline creatinine and C-reactive protein were elevated, while the levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate and hemoglobin decreased. Upon adjusting for demographic and biochemical variables, logistic regression analysis indicated that ln(SIRI) was independently associated with advanced CKD in pre-dialysis patients (OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.29-1.95, P<0.001). Moreover, Cox proportional-hazard analysis revealed that ln(SIRI) independently predicted CKD progression (HR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.07-1.59, P=0.009). Conducting a subgroup analysis, we observed significant interactions between ln(SIRI) levels and gender (p<0.001), age (p=0.046), and hypertension (p=0.028) in relation to the progression of CKD. Our study's findings demonstrate a significant association between SIRI and fundamental renal function, and independently establish a correlation between SIRI and the progression of CKD in pre-dialysis patients. These observations suggest that SIRI holds promise as a potential predictor for CKD progression.

Evidence of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) Genetic Shift from PCV2b to PCV2d Genotype in Sardinia, Italy.

Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the etiological agent of a disease syndrome named Porcine Circovirus disease (PCVD), representing an important threat for the pig industry. The increasing international trade of live animals and the development of intensive pig farming seem to have sustained the spreading of PCVD on a global scale. Recent classification criteria allowed the identification of nine different PCV2 genotypes (PCV2a-i). PCV2a was the first genotype detected with the highest frequency from the late 1990s to 2000, which was then superseded by PCV2b (first genotype shift). An ongoing genotype shift is now determining increasing prevalence rates of PCV2d, in replacement of PCV2b. In Italy, a complete genotype replacement was not evidenced yet. The present study was carried out on 369 samples originating from domestic pigs, free-ranging pigs, and wild boars collected in Sardinia between 2020 and 2022, with the aim to update the last survey performed on samples collected during 2009-2013. Fifty-seven complete ORF2 sequences were obtained, and the phylogenetic and network analyses evidenced that 56 out of 57 strains belong to the PCV2d genotype and only one strain to PCV2b, thus showing the occurrence of a genotype shift from PCV2b to PCV2d in Sardinia.

9.L. Workshop: Mental health literacy in schools: new insights from key European studies across populations

Abstract Background Good mental health is important for better population health outcomes and improved quality of life in societies, while poor mental health and mental disorders have not only negative health effects but are also responsible for increased health care costs and burden of disease. Increased prevalence rates of mental health problems, severity of mental illnesses and associated disability and mortality rates are considered alarming, making poor mental health a threat to population health and European public health. These circumstances together have resulted in an increased attention towards mental health in European and global public health. Mental health promotion in schools, at the workplace and everyday life has become an important tool to improve psychological and psychosocial health outcomes and increase mental well-being. In this context, mental health literacy, too, has become an important public health target. Mental health literacy is linked to health literacy but in addition includes an individual's capacities and resources that enable them to actively promote their mental health and mental well-being, including improved mental health knowledge, help-seeking strategies, and less stigmatizing attitudes. In particular it is defined as understanding how to sustain and maintain positive mental health, understanding mental disorders and their different treatments options, decreasing mental health related stigma, and enhancing people's help-seeking efficacy. As a concept, mental health literacy was coined in the 1990s, but in particular recent developments in digital communication technologies, digital health, the Internet and Social Media as well as the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated its uptake in public health research, practice and policy. Workshop objectives The aim of this workshop is to: (1) present current research projects and their findings on mental health literacy in schools from 3 different European countries (Germany, Portugal, France), (2) shed light on the critical importance of mental health literacy promotion in all settings and (3) initiate a critical discussion on concepts, methods and intervention concerning mental health literacy. The 1st presentation will introduce the WhySchool project, a mental health training program for teachers, school health professionals, and students (Portugal). The 2nd presentation will present a mental health literacy school intervention for students and teachers, the Guide (Germany). The 3rd presentation will introduce a novel tool to measure child mental health literacy (France). The 4th presentation will introduce a digital tool to promote mental health literacy of school-children. The format of this workshop will be 4 x 7 minute presentations followed by a 20 minute interactive panel discussion with the presenters. Key messages • This workshop will shed light on mental health literacy promotion based on contemporary European studies. • Mental health literacy is important for positive mental health and should be addressed as early as in schools and supported by public health policy-making.

Intensive cognitive behavioral group therapy for the treatment of panic disorder

Panic disorder is one of the most commonly occurring emotional disorder, showing increased prevalence rates since the COVID-19 pandemic. The ever-growing number of patients in need of treatment is a heavy burden on the healthcare system, which draws attention to the importance of low-intensity, short and effective psychological interventions in the treatment of mental disorders, especially in the field of primary care. According to international guidelines, the recommended evidence-based treatment of panic disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy, which is based on the cognitive model of panic disorder. According to the model, a panic attack develops in those who catastrophize the symptoms of the normal stress reaction, i.e., consider them a sign of a serious physical illness such as heart-attack and react to this with intense anxiety. Based on Salkovskis and Clark (1986), we developed a 5 session, intensive cognitive behavioral group therapy protocol for panic patients. Effectiveness of the short group therapy was assessed with questionnaires (Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory) and an additional subjective scale. Paired sample t-tests were conducted. Our results suggest that the intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms (t(36) = 5.497, p<0.0001; Z = -4.871, p<0.0001) as well as the frequency of panic attacks (Z= -5.190, p<0.0001) decreased significantly after the 5 session group therapy. Our clinical study provides further evidence by the effectiveness of low-intensity psychological interventions, offering an evidence-based protocol for professionals working in primary as well as mental health care. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(42): 1665-1672.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Patients with Psoriasis and Predictors Associated with the Development of Psoriatic Arthritis: Retrospective Analysis of a US Claims Database.

Psoriasis (PsO) is associated with the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients with PsO often experience pre-PsA musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms, leading to potential structural damage and substantial disease burden with impact on function. The objective of this study is to describe prevalence rates and evidence of MSK symptoms, including incidence of comorbid PsA diagnosis, in patients newly diagnosed with PsO and identify factors associated with PsA diagnosis. This retrospective analysis included administrative claims from the Optum Research Database for adult patients with a new PsO diagnosis between January 2008 and February 2019. Eligible patients had ≥ 2 claims for PsO on unique dates, were aged ≥ 18years at the date of the first claim with a diagnosis of PsO (index date), and had continuous enrollment with medical and pharmacy coverage for 12months before (baseline period) and ≥ 12months following the index date. Primary outcomes were incidence of comorbid PsA diagnosis, prevalence of MSK symptoms other than PsA, and evidence of MSK symptoms collected at baseline and assessed in 12-month intervals through 60months. Of the 116,203 patients with newly diagnosed PsO, 110,118 were without baseline comorbid PsA. High prevalence rates of MSK symptoms among patients with only PsO were seen at baseline (47.1%), 12months (48.2%), and 60months (82.1%). Patient age, baseline MSK symptoms, and baseline MSK symptom-related healthcare utilization were associated with increased hazard of a PsA diagnosis. Increased prevalence rates of MSK symptoms and burden are experienced by patients newly diagnosed with PsO through 60months of follow-up. Several baseline factors were associated with increased risk of PsA diagnosis.

Analysis of the association between osteoporosis and muscle strength in Korean adults: a national cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the associations between osteoporosis and hand grip strength (HGS), a surrogate marker of muscular strength, among Korean adults stratified by body mass index (BMI), age, and renal function.MethodsThis study was conducted using the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2019, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey performed by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.ResultsOf the 26,855 subjects included in this study, those with low muscle strength (LMS) and normal muscle strength were showed in 4,135 (15.4%) and 22,720 (84.6%) subjects, respectively. The osteoporotic subjects had a higher prevalence rate for LMS than those without osteoporosis after adjusting for age [odds ratio (OR), 1.684; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.500–1.890). The subjects with osteoporosis and BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 also had a higher prevalence rate for LMS after adjusting for age compared to those with non-osteoporosis and BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (OR, 1.872; 95% CI, 1.043–3.359). Compared to the non-osteoporotic subjects with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, those with osteoporosis and eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 had a higher prevalence rate for LMS after controlling for age and sex (OR, 1.630; 95% CI, 1.427–1.862).ConclusionsThe results showed that osteoporosis was likely to contribute to an increased prevalence rate of LMS in terms of HGS. Aging, BMI, and renal function also had significant effects on the association between osteoporosis and LMS. This association is likely to assist in developing better strategies to estimate bone health in clinical or public health practice.

The silent burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the elderly: A global burden of disease analysis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant health threat worldwide. The growing trend towards an aging population, along with an alarming rise in obesity and diabetes, may have significant implications for the burden of NAFLD. To assess the impact of NAFLD on the elderly. We utilised data from the Global Burden of Disease study between 2010 and 2019 to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with NAFLD in the elderly (65-89 years), stratified by region, nation, sociodemographic Index and sex. Globally, there were an estimated 228 million cases, 87,230 deaths and 1.46 million DALYs attributed to NAFLD in the elderly. Geographically, the Western Pacific region had the highest burden of NAFLD in the elderly. From 2010 to 2019, there was an increasing prevalence rate in all areas, with the most pronounced change observed in the Western Pacific region (annual percentage change (APC) +0.95%, p < 0.001). Over the study period, there was a more rapid increase in NAFLD prevalence in men (APC +0.74%, p < 0.001) than in women (APC +0.63%, p < 0.001). In most regions, death and DALYs rates have declined, with the exception of the Americas, where there was a slight increase (APC +0.25%, p = 0.002 and 0.38%, p < 0.001, respectively). Over the past decade, the burden of NAFLD in the elderly has been increasing, necessitating immediate and inclusive measures to tackle the rising burden.

DIAGNOSTIC PATTERNS OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

To characterize prevalence estimates by race, age, sex, and comorbidity (diabetes and hypertension) within the Medicare beneficiary demographic. In this US population-based retrospective cohort analysis, the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System was analyzed for a 100% sample of Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiary populations of Asians and non-Hispanic Whites between 2014 and 2018. Exclusionary criteria included beneficiaries younger than 40 years. Prevalence rate ratios, defined as prevalence rate for Asians divided by prevalence rate for non-Hispanic Whites, were calculated using multivariate negative binomial regression or Pearson-scaled Poisson regression, stratified by age, sex, and comorbidity. A total of 21,892,200 Medicare beneficiaries fulfilled the inclusionary criteria in 2018. Of the entire cohort, 3.2% of the beneficiaries (N = 714,500) were Asian. For beneficiaries aged 40 to 64 years, Asian male (prevalence rate ratios 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.64-1.83, P < 0.0001) and female (prevalence rate ratios 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.28-1.41, P < 0.0001) beneficiaries had an increased prevalence rate of all age-related macular degeneration relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Significant time-wise increases in prevalence rate ratios were observed within several age groups, sexes, and comorbidities (race-time interaction coefficients P < 0.05 ). This analysis highlights increased age-related macular degeneration prevalence estimates within the Asian American demographic relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Furthermore, specific Asian subpopulations are experiencing accelerated prevalence rates over time.

Combination of Pioglitazone and Metformin Actions on Liver Lipid Metabolism in Obese Mice.

Despite the increasing prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, efficient pharmacotherapeutic regimens against NAFLD still need to be explored. Previous studies found that pioglitazone and metformin therapy could partly ameliorate NAFLD, but their combination therapy effects have not been researched. In the present study, we assessed the protective effects of metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy on liver lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and investigated the molecular mechanism. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: normal control; HFD control; metformin monotherapy; pioglitazone monotherapy and combined therapy. After 8 weeks of pharmacological intervention, glucose and lipid metabolism characteristics, hepatic histology, lipidomics profiling and RNA-seq analysis were performed. The combination of pioglitazone and metformin significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disturbance and the hepatic oil red O area. A lipidomics analysis showed that combined therapy could significantly reduce the high levels of free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerol and triglycerides, while a set of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids were increased in the combined therapy group. Consistently, an RNA-seq analysis also showed a remarkable reduction in genes associated with FFA uptake and de novo lipogenesis, including Cd36, Fads1, Fads2, Fasn, Scd1, Elovl5 and Pklr in the combined therapy group. Pioglitazone and metformin might have a synergistic protective effect on NAFLD by improving hepatic lipid profiles in HFD-induced mice. Further studies are needed to verify the clinical effects.

Healthcare Practitioners' Perspective of Prevailing Awareness on Diabetes Complications: A Questionnaire-Based Pan-India Study.

The increasing prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the associated long-term complications warrant a need to improve awareness of DM-related complications in the Indian population. Our questionnaire-based pan-India study (April 2021-March 2022) aims to capture the observations of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) on the prevailing level of knowledge and awareness regarding diabetes among their patients. We refer to this as the 90:90:90 program. It aims to achieve 90% awareness, 90% screening and detection of diabetes and prediabetes, and 90% achievement of effective treatment and control. A structured questionnaire was circulated to 1800 HCPs using Google Forms (Google,Mountain View, CA) and Zoom poll questions (Zoom Video Communications, Inc.,San Jose, CA) during 125 symposiums. About half (48.6%) of the HCPs observe that less than 40% of their patients are aware of the risk factors of diabetes, and less than 60% of the patients were aware of its cardiovascular complications. About 92-95% of the HCPs recommend screening for diabetes in adults over 30 years of age and suggest the inclusion of a blood glucose estimate as a fifth vital to be tested during doctor visits. Less than 40% of patients fail to achieve the treatment goal, possibly due to lack of adherence, access to medicines, and financial constraints. Therefore, spreading awareness of DM complications and early screening for DM among adults (>30 years) could help achieve better management and treatment outcomes.

Multimodal Emotion Recognition for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Social Interaction

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) remain a healthcare challenge and gain considerable attention due to the increasing prevalence rates and insupportable burden on families and society. It is noted that the recognition of children’s emotional states plays an important role in the evaluation and intervention process of ASD. In this paper, we aim to address the problem of automatic recognition of the emotional states of ASD children in social interactive scenarios. Since the child can be unconstrained in realistic scenarios, the face occlusion under pose variations and uncertain backgrounds become challenges of this task. To tackle this problem, we employ both facial expressions as well as body poses as cues to recognize the emotional states while most traditional methods only leverage the former. Firstly for the facial information, spatial features are extracted through convolutional neural networks followed by a temporal transformer to extract temporal information. Then for the body pose information, graph convolutional networks combined with the self-attention part are used to represent spatial features and temporal convolutional layers for temporal counterparts. Finally, different multimodal fusion ways are explored to generate final recognition results. We evaluate this method on a challenging database collected by us in real-world child-clinician interactive scenarios and the proposed method achieved significantly better results than baselines using only facial information. Thus it is suggested that there is a potential to assist in clinical practice by providing the recognized emotion as feedback.

Network Analysis Using the Established Database (K-herb Network) on Herbal Medicines Used in Clinical Research on Heart Failure

Objectives: Heart failure is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence rates despite advancements in medical technology. Korean medicine utilizes herbal prescriptions to treat heart failure, but little is known about the specific herbal medicines comprising the network of herbal prescriptions for heart failure. This study proposes a novel methodology that can efficiently develop prescriptions and facilitate experimental research on heart failure by utilizing existing databases.Methods: Herbal medicine prescriptions for heart failure were identified through a PubMed search and compiled into a Google Sheet database. NetMiner 4 was used for network analysis, and the individual networks were classified according to the herbal medicine classification system to identify trends. K-HERB NETWORK was utilized to derive related prescriptions.Results: Network analysis of heart failure prescriptions and herbal medicines using NetMiner 4 produced 16 individual networks. &lt;i&gt;Uhwangcheongsim-won&lt;/i&gt; (牛黃淸心元), &lt;i&gt;Gamiondam-tang&lt;/i&gt; (加味溫膽湯), &lt;i&gt;Bangpungtongseong-san&lt;/i&gt; (防風通聖散), and &lt;i&gt;Bunsimgi-eum&lt;/i&gt; (分心氣飮) were identified as prescriptions with high similarity in the entire network. A total of 16 individual networks utilized K-HERB NETWORK to present prescriptions that were most similar to existing prescriptions. The results provide 1) an indication of existing prescriptions with potential for use to treat heart failure and 2) a basis for developing new prescriptions for heart failure treatment.Conclusion: The proposed methodology presents an efficient approach to developing new heart failure prescriptions and facilitating experimental research. This study highlights the potential of network pharmacology methodology and its possible applications in other diseases. Further studies on network pharmacology methodology are recommended.

Association of Herpesvirus and Periodontitis: A Clinical and Laboratorial Case-Control Study.

A significant influence of the Herpesviridae family in the progression of periodontal disease has been suggested. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association of four Herpesviruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, cytomegalovirus [CMV], and Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]) with periodontal disease using a qualitative test for evaluating the presence or absence of viral DNA in crevicular fluid samples of both healthy periodontal patients and periodontal compromised patients. A case-control study was conducted in 100 participants at a university clinic. A qualitative test was used for evaluating the presence/absence of viral DNA in crevicular fluid samples of both healthy periodontal patients and periodontal compromised patients, and considering the periodontitis staging (stage II, stage III, and stage IV) and grading (grade A, grade B, and grade C). The distribution of the same exposure variables to the periodontitis staging and grading was compared using Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Gamma tests depending on the variable characteristics. The significance level was set at 5%. The association of the variables: age, sex, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, and oral hygiene was also considered. The prevalence of Herpesviridae family virus DNA was 6% for the periodontal healthy group and 60% for the periodontitis group (roughly 60% on periodontitis stages II, III, and IV, p <0.001; and twofold increase in moderate and rapid progression grades compared with the slow progression grade, p <0.001). HSV1 DNA was prevalent in all periodontitis stages and grades. HSV 2, EBV, and CMV DNA had increasing prevalence rates in more severe stages (stages III and IV, p <0.001); while considering periodontitis grade, HSV2 (p = 0.001), CMV (p = 0.019) and EBV (p <0.001) DNA were prevalent only in grades B and C, with EBV DNA registering a marked prevalence in grade C. A significant different distribution of Herpesviridae virus DNA per each stage of disease was registered.

Serum malondialdehyde in different stages of chronic renal disorder

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread public health problem, which may have several adverse consequences such as renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Kidney-related pathologies have increasing prevalence rates, produce a considerable financial burden, and are characterized by elevated levels of oxidative stress (OS). Several markers emerged as well-suited indicators of OS such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid hydroperoxides. The reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes status and increased production of MDA in the CKD patients confirm the presence of OS. The alteration in antioxidant status and MDA in CKD patients supports the role of OS in CKD patient. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare serum MDA in different stages of CKD with that of control. It is well known that inflammation has an important role in CKD and MDA is an oxidant biomarker. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study having 400 participants with 300 known cases of CKD and 100 healthy controls. Serum MDA levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid assay. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups regarding the MDA values (P&lt;0.001) with that of control. The mean MDA value in Stage III (5.64±1.93 Umol/L), Stage IV (6.14±1.584 Umol/L), and Stage V (10.761±3.347 U moL/L) of CKD patients were high in comparison to healthy control (1.88±0.181 U mol/L). Conclusion: We concluded that MDA is a useful biomarker in CKD patients. The correlations of serum MDA among different stages of CKD patients were significant. Larger studies focused on CKD severity and antioxidant/oxidant biomarkers are required.