Screening For Early Detection Research Articles

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Hypertension Among Bank Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most common non-communicable medical conditions and the leading preventable risk factor for early mortality worldwide. As a result of their exposure to sedentary work and job strain, bank employees comprise an occupational group at risk for HTN. Due to the lack of previous research addressing this issue in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of HTN and its associated factors among bankers in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 bank employees. A self-administered questionnaire in the workplace was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors of participants, including smoking, physical activity, family history of HTN, and diabetes mellitus. Each participant’s blood pressure, height, and weight were measured. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess stress levels. Results: The prevalence of HTN in the participants was 28.9%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being a smoker (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–3.25), diabetic (aOR = 5.14, 95% CI: 1.60–16.54), or obese (aOR = 5.49, 95% CI: 2.75–10.96); having a positive family history of HTN (aOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.36–4.51); and having a very high stress score (≥21; aOR = 3.24, 95% CI: 1.04–10.11) were associated with an increased risk of HTN, while walking for 10 min continuously ≥7 times/week (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12–0.64) was associated with a decreased risk of HTN. Conclusions: The findings revealed that almost one out of three bank employees had HTN. Periodic screening for early detection of HTN, as well as implementing health education and lifestyle modification programs, is recommended.

Enhancing Thyroid Nodule Detection in Ultrasound Images: A Novel YOLOv8 Architecture with a C2fA Module and Optimized Loss Functions

Thyroid-related diseases, particularly thyroid cancer, are rising globally, emphasizing the critical need for the early detection and accurate screening of thyroid nodules. Ultrasound imaging has inherent limitations—high noise, low contrast, and blurred boundaries—that make manual interpretation subjective and error-prone. To address these challenges, YOLO-Thyroid, an improved model for the automatic detection of thyroid nodules in ultrasound images, is presented herein. Building upon the YOLOv8 architecture, YOLO-Thyroid introduces the C2fA module—an extension of C2f that incorporates Coordinate Attention (CA)—to enhance feature extraction. Additionally, loss functions were incorporated, including class-weighted binary cross-entropy to alleviate class imbalance and SCYLLA-IoU (SIoU) to improve localization accuracy during boundary regression. A publicly available thyroid ultrasound image dataset was optimized using format conversion and data augmentation. The experimental results demonstrate that YOLO-Thyroid outperforms mainstream object detection models across multiple metrics, achieving a higher detection precision of 54%. The recall, calculated based on the detection of nodules containing at least one feature suspected of being malignant, reaches 58.2%, while the model maintains a lightweight structure. The proposed method significantly advances ultrasound nodule detection, providing an effective and practical solution for enhancing diagnostic accuracy in medical imaging.

Gut Microbiota Interacts with Dietary Habits in Screenings for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer.

Gut microbiota interacts with nutrients, which may be relevant to assigning a microbial signature to colorectal cancer (CRC). We aim to evaluate the potential of gut microbiota combined with dietary habits in the early detection of pathological findings related to CRC in the course of a screening program. The colonoscopy performed on 152 subjects positive for fecal occult blood test showed that 6 subjects had adenocarcinoma, 123 had polyps, and 23 subjects had no pathological findings. Gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S metagenomic. Caret package was used to build the classification models in R. Random forest (RF) classifier models were used to test the potential of gut microbiota alone or combined with dietary habits as a biomarker to discern between individuals with CRC-related lesions (polyps or adenocarcinoma) versus individuals without pathological findings. RF classifier models yielded an area under the curve of 0.790 using gut microbiota data, 0.710 using dietary habits data, and 0.804 in the combined model including gut microbiota and dietary habits data. The abundance of Suterella, Oscillospirales, Proteobacteria, and Burkholderiales was highly discriminant between groups, together with the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the consumption of carbonated and/or sweetened beverages. Our results suggest that the interaction between gut microbiota and dietary habits is relevant when a microbial signature is used as a marker in CRC. Moreover, gut microbiota signature and information about the dietary habits of the individuals seem to be important for improving screening programs for the early detection of CRC.

Pattern of Thyroid Disorders in a Tertiary Care Centre of a High-Altitude Region of Nepal: A hospital-based retrospective study

Background: Millions of people globally suffer from thyroid disorders, with over half of them are unaware of their conditions. Untreated, these disorders can lead to severe health complications such as heart problems, pregnancy complications, goiter, bone health issues, etc. Jumla, a high-altitude Himalayan region in Nepal, includes iodine-deficient areas, making it prone to thyroid disorders. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and pattern of thyroid disorders in this region. Methods: A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla, spanning from 1st January–31st December 2023. Participants of all ages with complete thyroid function test results (fT3, fT4, and TSH assessed via chemiluminescence immunoassay) were included. Data were extracted from Bahmni EMR, cleaned in MS-Excel, and analyzed in R software, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Among 816 participants (mean age: 35.66 ± 14.60 years), 660 (80.8%) were female, and 156 (19.1%) were male. The most represented age group was 25–34 years. Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most prevalent disorder, affecting 33 males (21.15%) and 143 females (21.66%). Primary hyperthyroidism was the least common, found in 1 male (0.64%) and 7 females (1.06%). Other disorders included secondary hypothyroidism, secondary hyperthyroidism, primary hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism. Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid disorder, with females disproportionately affected. Wider population screening for early detection and management is essential to mitigate health risks.

Factors impacting sleep center no-show rates post hospital discharge utilizing geospatial coding in Appalachia.

Screening for early detection of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in hospitalized patients has been shown to reduce readmission rates. However, post-discharge polysomnography for confirmation of diagnosis is required. We analyzed factors for "no-shows" using geospatial techniques. Data were obtained between September 2019 and September 2023. The outcome for the study was patient's no-show rate (non-compliant) for polysomnography post hospital discharge. Predictors included patient age, gender, BMI, health literacy, distressed community index (DCI) score and distance to sleep center for the patient's zip code of residence. Logistic regression was applied to estimate odds of patient compliance at the patient-level utilizing geospatial mapping technique. Geographically weighted logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds of a zip-code having compliant patients. Of the 1318 hospitalized patients established as high risk for SDB and referred for an overnight sleep study who were able to be geocoded, 228 were compliant and 1130 were non-compliant. In non-spatial regression analyses, health literacy (aOR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1.03, 1.09), age (aOR=0.99, 95% CI=0.98, 0.99), and drive time (aOR=0.95, 95% CI = 0.92, 0.97) were identified as statistically significant predictors of patient compliance. Spatial regression analyses identified areas that had high and low predictive probability of patient compliance, as well as which community level factors were co-occurring in those areas. The findings suggest that both patient-level factors and the community where patients live may impact no-show rates. Health literacy was identified as a key modifiable predictor at the patient level. At the community level, we found that predicted probability of patient compliance varied throughout the state. Efforts should focus on enhancing patient education at the individual level and understanding geographical factors to improve compliance.

Multicancer Early Detection Screening Tools: Not Economically Efficient, Not Ethically Equitable, Marginally Medically Effective.

A screening test for more than 50 cancers at earlier stages would strike many as a godsend. Such a test would promise, prima facie, to save 160,000 lives annually from a premature death from cancer, reduce the intensity of medical treatment, and reduce social costs. In brief, this is what is promised by the Galleri test. We will delineate those claims in greater detail and critically assess them from medical, economic, and ethical perspectives. We conclude, with many others, that this test lacks clinical validity and clinical utility. In addition, annual public funding of $100 billion for this test would be socially unaffordable; the opportunity costs would be unacceptable for both ethical and economic reasons. Further, the least well off with respect to cancer care would be made worse off if this test were publicly funded for everyone over the age of fifty.

Assessment of Nutritional Status and its Associated Factors among the Elderly Population: A Cross-sectional Study from Rural Area of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Introduction: Elderly malnutrition is an iceberg phenomenon and remains undiagnosed most of the time. The elderly people are at risk of malnutrition due to physical, psychological, social, dietary and environmental risk factors. When malnutrition gets compounded with various co-morbidities, it turns into a vicious cycle. Aim: To focus on the assessment of nutritional status and its associated factors among the elderly population above 60 years of age in a rural area of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: This was a community-based crosssectional study done for a period of four months in the rural field practice area of Madurai Medical College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Following ethical clearance, study subjects were selected by using single stage area wise cluster sampling technique. Data was collected from 240 elderly individuals by face to face interview using semistructured questionnaire. Details regarding socio-demographic variables like age, gender, educational status, occupational status, economic dependency and place of residence were taken. Nestle’s Short Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (SF-MNA) screening tool was used to assess the nutritional status of the study participants. The association was assessed by Chi-square test. Significance level was considered at p-value of ≤0.05. Results: Prevalence of malnutrition was seen among 33 (13.75%) individuals. A 105 (43.75%) were at the risk of malnutrition and 102 (42.5%) had satisfactory nutritional status. The comparison between well nourished, at risk of malnutrition and malnourished groups showed significant differences with respect to age (p-value=0.016), economic dependency (p-value=0.002), place of residence (p-value=0.004), Body Mass Index (BMI) (p-value=0.024), calf circumference (p-value=0.016) and presence of co-morbid illness (p-value=0.015). Conclusion: The findings of the present study clearly indicate that malnutrition is a multifactorial condition associated with socio-demographic, somatic and functional status. A multidimensional approach is required to deal with these issues. Nutritional assessment and screening of elderly people should be done by opportunistic screening for early detection of malnutrition and to implement an appropriate nutritional intervention.

Proposal of a radiation-free screening protocol for early detection of interstitial lung involvement in seropositive and ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundSeropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with significant cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity. However, screening for early detection of pulmonary involvement especially interstitial lung disease (ILD) is not established in RA.MethodsWe propose a non-invasive radiation-free approach to screen for interstitial lung involvement (ILI) by means of pulmonary function tests (PFT) and pleuro-pulmonary transthoracic ultrasound (LUS) with additional cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) with ECG, and echocardiography. We included patients with confirmed diagnosis of seropositive RA according to ACR criteria, but without symptoms for or known cardiopulmonary disease. ILD was suspected when significant LUS abnormalities and additional PFT changes were present.ResultsWe included 67 consecutive patients (78% female, mean age 61 ± 12 years, 48% active or previous smokers), who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent.We found 48% of patients with suspected changes in PFT with a diffusion capacity (DLCOc-SB) ≤ 80%, among them 7% with forced vital capacity (FVC) ≤ 80%.In 40% of patients, we found noticeable changes in LUS, 24% with an ILD compatible pattern. In 16% of cases, LUS abnormalities and additional PFT changes were present, and ILI was suspected. Additional findings included obstructive lung disease (n = 11), subpleural consolidation (n = 6) including one confirmed lung cancer, minimal pleural effusion (n = 6), and ischemic cardiac disease (n = 2). None of the patients showed signs of pulmonary vascular involvement.ConclusionsILI was suspected in 16% of cases using a new radiation-free screening protocol in asymptomatic RA patients.Trial registrationGerman Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS00028871).

Pre-symptomatic scintigraphic and genetic cascade screening in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis.

While early diagnosis is crucial, as new treatments can significantly slow the progression of the disease, there is growing evidence on the application of novel imaging techniques for detecting transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) in pre-symptomatic stages. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of pre-symptomatic scintigraphic imaging cascade screening for early detection of ATTR. During the period from 2020 to 2024, we conducted a prospective study that enrolled 100 consecutive adults. The study utilized a multimodal cascade screening approach to assess asymptomatic relatives of individuals with ATTR (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05814380). The analysis incorporated clinical data, genetic testing, echocardiography, scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) with [99mTc]Tc-DPD, regardless of the predicted age of disease onset. Overall, scintigraphy identified cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in 8.2% of relatives, while 20.5% carried a pathogenic transthyretin variant without radiotracer uptake, with Phe53Leu being predominant. Notably, no relatives of wild-type ATTR patients exhibited CA on scintigraphy or carried a transthyretin variant. Additionally, newly-diagnosed relatives with ATTR CA presented elevated high-sensitivity troponin levels and exhibited a higher incidence of pathological electrocardiographic Q waves, greater thickness of the intraventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall, a notable decline in lateral wall and intraventricular septal E' tissue velocities measured by TDI, and the "5-5-5" sign (p < 0.05). The presented findings demonstrate that implementing a systematic screening protocol, which integrates genetic and scintigraphic testing, facilitates the early detection of ATTR. Crucially, a significant proportion of asymptomatic relatives of patients with hereditary ATTR may suffer from underlying CA. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05814380.

Abstract PR006: The potential of multi-cancer early detection screening for reducing cancer mortality

Abstract Background: Currently, routine screening is recommended for only four cancer types (i.e., breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung) by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and two-thirds of incident cancers have no screening guidelines. Emerging liquid biopsy multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests have the potential to revolutionize early cancer detection. Their impact on cancer mortality remains uncertain. Computer models are needed to forecast long-term outcomes. Methods: We developed Simulation Model for MCED (SiMCED), a continuous-time, discrete-event microsimulation model of 14 solid tumor cancers: breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, gastric, head and neck, kidney, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and urinary bladder. Cancer type- and stage-specific dwell times informed the transitions between cancer stages I-IV. Cancer type- and stage-specific MCED test sensitivities were derived from a large, multi-center, prospective, case-control study: Ascertaining Serial Cancer patients to Enable New Diagnostic 2 (ASCEND-2). The model was calibrated to reproduce annual incidence rates of cancer diagnosis as captured in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, while accounting for the unobserved cancer burden. Using a 10-year time horizon, we simulated the life course of 5 million US adults aged 50-84 years, representative of the US population age distribution. Cancer diagnosis could arise from usual care or annual MCED screening. The MCED test was administered at the beginning of each year to individuals aged 50-84 years. After a cancer diagnosis, individuals followed SEER survival curves to determine the time and cause of death (cancer- or non-cancer-related). Results: Over the 10-year time horizon, the supplemental use of MCED screening reduced stage IV incidence by 876 (42%) per 100,000, relative to usual care. The 10-year reduction in cancer mortality was 439 (17%) per 100,000, which translates to 505,600 cancer-related deaths averted among US adults aged 50-84 years. Lung cancer had the highest absolute 10-year cancer mortality reduction at 126 (13%) per 100,000. Among the cancer types for which there is no routine screening, the 10-year cancer mortality reduction was 175 (15%) per 100,000, equating to 201,500 cancer-related deaths averted among US adults aged 50-84 years. Within the 10-year time window, earlier diagnosis by MCED led to an aggregated life-year gain of 1,165 per 100,000, which translates to a gain of 1,340,000 life-years among US adults aged 50-84 years. Conclusion: Our study suggests that MCED screening could be effective for reducing both stage IV incidence and cancer mortality. The real-world impact of MCED tests and their cost-effectiveness require further investigation. Citation Format: Jagpreet Chhatwal, Jade Xiao, Andrew ElHabr, Christopher Tyson, Xiting Cao, Sana Raoof, A. Mark Fendrick, A. Burak Ozbay, Paul Limburg, Tomasz M. Beer, Ashish Deshmukh, Andrew Briggs. The potential of multi-cancer early detection screening for reducing cancer mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr PR006.

Abstract A073: The potential of multi-cancer early detection screening for reducing cancer mortality

Abstract This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR006) of the Conference Program/Proceedings. Citation Format: Jagpreet Chhatwal, Jade Xiao, Andrew ElHabr, Christopher Tyson, Xiting Cao, Sana Raoof, A. Mark Fendrick, A. Burak Ozbay, Paul Limburg, Tomasz M. Beer, Ashish Deshmukh, Andrew Briggs. The potential of multi-cancer early detection screening for reducing cancer mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr A073.

Indications regarding early detection screening for genital tract neoplasms

Testicular tumors and penile cancer are rare but potentially life-threatening diseases. Testicular tumors primarily affect younger men, while penile cancer is more common in older men. Early detection can significantly improve survival rates. This article investigates the indications for early detection screenings for testicular tumors and penile cancer. Acomprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze current studies and guidelines. No general screening programs are recommended for either type of cancer. For testicular tumors, self-examination of the testes is recommended, while for penile carcinomas, education on risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) infections or phimosis is emphasized. In both cases, medical examination is crucial. Education and awareness, especially among at-risk groups, are essential. Physicians play akey role in conducting and recommending early detection measures.

A pilot randomized clinical trial of a smartphone-based application to support at-home PSA screening and culturally tailored prostate cancer education for African American men: A study protocol

BackgroundProstate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods. MethodsAA men aged 55 to 69 and are not up to date with PSA screening will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive a prostate cancer screening app: Prevention Taskforce App (Taskforce App; control condition) or the Prostate Cancer Genius App (Genius App; intervention condition), which was developed specifically for AA men. ResultsWe will evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the apps via post-intervention group differences on the validated 18-item Prostate Cancer Knowledge Scale (primary outcome). We will also explore post-intervention group differences in perceived engagement, accessibility, and acceptability between the apps. Finally, we will derive preliminary estimates of PSA screening rates between study conditions and identify mechanisms of screening adherence. DiscussionmHealth apps offer promise to improve prostate cancer knowledge and screening rates among AA men. Demonstrating the preliminary efficacy of the Genius App will support future fully-powered mHealth interventions to address health disparities.

Lipid Accumulation Product and Cardiometabolic Index as Effective Tools for the Identification of Athletes at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing global public health concern that is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, even in athletes. The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index and cardiometabolic index (CMI) have been shown to be efficient markers of MS in the general population; its applicability in athletes has not been discussed yet. We aimed to assess the role of LAP and CMI in predicting MS in athletes. We retrospectively enrolled 793 Olympic athletes practicing different sporting disciplines (power, skill, endurance, and mixed), classified arbitrarily into no risk (NR), low risk (LR), high risk (HR), or MS if they had 0, 1, 2, or 3 criteria for MS, respectively. Evaluations included a calculation of the LAP index, CMI, anthropometric measurements, and clinical and laboratorial variables. Among our population, only 0.8% reached the criteria for MS, 9.1% were at HR for MS, 37.8% were defined as LR, and 52.3% had NR. Significant differences in anthropometric parameters and the principal components of MS criteria (blood pressure, lipidic profile, glycemia) were reported predominantly in HR athletes and those with MS (p < 0.0001). LAP and CMI presented linearly increasing values from individuals with NR to those with MS (p < 0.0001). In addition, HR and MS athletes were classified as "likely MS" (9.8%) and LR and NR athletes as "unlikely MS" (90.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders, LAP ≥ 34.66 and CMI ≥ 0.776 emerged as independent predictors for MS in the overall cohort (Hazar Ratio (HR) 7.22 [3.75-13.89], p < 0.0001, and HR 5.37 [2.96-9.73], p < 0.0001, respectively). The ROC curve revealed that these cut-offs in the general population predict MS with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively, for LAP and CMI. However, gender-related cut-offs seem to be more precise in predicting MS (LAP ≥ 38.79 for male, LAP ≥ 14.16 for female, and CMI ≥ 0.881 for male and ≥0.965 for female). The ROC curve analyses of LAP and CMI showed good diagnostic accuracy in predicting MS among athletes, despite the low prevalence of MS in our sample. Thus, these indexes may be used to promote screening for primary prevention and early detection of athletes at risk for MS to establish an early prevention strategy. Larger prospective studies are necessary to validate their benefit in the general population.

N-NOSE Proves Effective for Early Cancer Detection: Real-World Data from Third-Party Medical Institutions.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in Japan, yet participation in conventional screening programs is low due to invasiveness, cost, and accessibility. Non-invasive, affordable, and accurate methods for early cancer detection in asymptomatic individuals are urgently needed. This opinion manuscript evaluates nematode cancer testing, a novel urine-based screening test using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, for its potential to improve early cancer detection rates, based on real-world data published in a Japanese journal. Nematode cancer testing leverages the nematode's ability to detect cancer-associated volatile compounds in urine, offering a highly sensitive, non-invasive screening approach. We analyzed data from a nationwide survey of PET-equipped medical institutions in Japan, comparing cancer discovery rates between nematode cancer testing-triggered and standard PET screenings. In nematode cancer testing-triggered PET screenings, the cancer discovery rate was 2.96%, significantly higher than the 1.31% observed in standard PET screenings. The apparent positive predictive value (PPV) of nematode cancer testing was calculated at 2.09%; when adjusted for PET/CT sensitivity, the actual PPV increased to approximately 11.7%. This reflects a screening efficiency 14.6 times higher than the general population's cancer incidence. These findings indicate that nematode cancer testing successfully detects cancer in high-risk individuals and may encourage participation in further diagnostic evaluations. The recently published nationwide survey of PET-equipped medical institutions in Japan highlights the good performance of nematode cancer testing in cancer detection. As an opinion-type manuscript based on real-world data from Japan, this paper shows that nematode cancer testing has substantial potential as a cost-effective, minimally invasive primary cancer screening tool for asymptomatic populations. By enhancing early detection rates and screening efficiency, it addresses the limitations of traditional screening methods. Implementing nematode cancer testing could lead to improved cancer outcomes, particularly in populations with low participation in standard screening programs and resource-limited settings.

Increased risk for thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm in the relatives of abdominal aorta aneurysm patients

Abstract Introduction Genetic susceptibilities in aneurysm genes are risk factors for developing aneurysms of the aorta. This translates to a high aneurysm prevalence in relatives of aortic aneurysm patients. For relatives of abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) patients, guidelines recommend abdominal ultrasound screening for early detection and management, while for relatives of thoracic aorta aneurysm patients (TAA), transthoracic ultrasound of the ascending aorta and aortic root is recommended. Neither of these guidelines are designed to detect aneurysms in the whole aorta. The incidence of TAA in relatives of AAA index-patients is unknown and may determine whether abdominal ultrasound screening is sufficient for relatives of AAA patients or whether whole aorta screening should be recommended. Furthermore, focused screening of high risk relatives of aneurysm patients may improve the yield of aneurysm detection now that population frequencies are declining. Methods Whole aorta non-contrast CTs of relatives of AAA index-patients were collected retrospectively in a tertiary referral (2016 to 2021). Family history and DNA testing of AAA index-patients were used to classify relatives into high genetic risk (familial disease and/or pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant (P/LP) in an aneurysm gene) or unknown genetic risk (no familial disease or no P/LP detected). TAA were defined as ascending diameters ≥ 45mm or descending diameters ≥ 40mm. Thoracic aortic dilatations (TAD) were defined as ascending diameters of 40-45 mm or descending diameters of 35-40 mm. Abdominal diameters ≥30mm were classified as AAA and diameters between 25-29 mm as abdominal dilatations (AAD). References 1-3. Results CT scans (n=301 relatives, 47% male, age 58(50-65)) showed 34% aortic aneurysms and/or dilatations versus 14% in the general population (age adjusted, p&amp;lt;0.001). TAA was 28-times more frequent (2%, p&amp;lt;0001) and AAA 3 times more frequent (8%, p&amp;lt;0.001) than in the general population. Thoracic and abdominal dilatations occurred in 18% and 17% of relatives. Overall, males were 4 times more likely to have an aneurysm than females (p&amp;lt;0.05). Aneurysms and dilatations occurred at the same rate in relatives with or without a family history or a P/LP in an aneurysm gene. These results endorse total aorta screening for relatives of all AAA patients rather than restricting screening to the abdominal aorta. Conclusions Relatives of AAA patients had a high risk for thoracic and abdominal aneurysms as well as dilatations. This indicates that imaging of the whole aorta will improve early detection of aortic aneurysms in relatives both with and without a family history of aneurysms.

Early detection of mild cognitive impairment through neuropsychological tests in population screenings: a decision support system integrating ontologies and machine learning.

Machine learning (ML) methodologies for detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are progressively gaining prevalence to manage the vast volume of processed information. Nevertheless, the black-box nature of ML algorithms and the heterogeneity within the data may result in varied interpretations across distinct studies. To avoid this, in this proposal, we present the design of a decision support system that integrates a machine learning model represented using the Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) in an ontology with specialized knowledge in neuropsychological tests, the NIO ontology. The system's ability to detect MCI subjects was evaluated on a database of 520 neuropsychological assessments conducted in Spanish and compared with other well-established ML methods. Using the F2 coefficient to minimize false negatives, results indicate that the system performs similarly to other well-established ML methods (F2TE2 = 0.830, only below bagging, F2BAG = 0.832) while exhibiting other significant attributes such as explanation capability and data standardization to a common framework thanks to the ontological part. On the other hand, the system's versatility and ease of use were demonstrated with three additional use cases: evaluation of new cases even if the acquisition stage is incomplete (the case records have missing values), incorporation of a new database into the integrated system, and use of the ontology capabilities to relate different domains. This makes it a useful tool to support physicians and neuropsychologists in population-based screenings for early detection of MCI.

Raising Awareness of the Impact of Stunting on Toddler Development Through Parental Education

In 2023, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia remains at 21.5%, showing only a marginal decrease of 0.1% from the previous year and still exceeding the WHO standard of 20%. Stunting adversely affects children, leading to impaired physical and cognitive development, increased risk of developmental disorders, and a higher likelihood of metabolic diseases in adulthood.This study utilized a multi-stage approach: data and area analysis, educational and developmental screening, and evaluation. Participants included 44 parents with their toddlers, 5 cadres, and 3 village officials. Knowledge among participants improved significantly, with 76% demonstrating enhanced understanding. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in knowledge post-intervention (p=0.000). Developmental assessments showed that 11% of toddlers were classified as "doubtful" and 23% as having "deviant" results. Parents of these children received education on age-appropriate stimulation, and cases were reported to local health workers. The goal is for the acquired knowledge to be widely applied, with ongoing routine screening for early detection and timely management of developmental issues.

ATTITUDE OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN IMO ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

Cervical cancer is a significant health concern and one of the leading causes of death among women globally. This study aimed to examine the attitudes related to cervical cancer screening among female students in public tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. The study, guided by three research questions and two null hypotheses tested at the 0.05 significance level used a descriptive survey design. A sample of 900 students was selected from a population of 11,825 female undergraduates. The research instrument, “Attitude towards Cervical Cancer Screening Questionnaire (ACCSQ)” was validated and found reliable with coefficient alphas of 0.89. Data were collected through direct delivery and analysed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of ANOVA. The findings revealed that most students had a positive attitude toward screening, with a mean attitude score of 53.35. Attitudes of the female students of this study towards cervical cancer screening did not significantly differ based on their ages or their level of education. The study recommended that given the generally positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening, awareness campaigns should be strengthened to further encourage screening participation. These campaigns should target all age groups, emphasizing the importance of early detection and regular screening for cervical cancer. KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer, screening, female students, attitude, public, tertiary institutions

8657 Thymic Neoplasia In A Pediatric Patient With LI-Fraumeni Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract Disclosure: M.A. Souza: None. W.M. Lins: None. D. di Matteo: None. J.L. Marcayata: None. A. Kuhn: None. H. Charcar: None. F. Ledesma: None. M.Q. Almeida: None. F. Jatene: None. B.B. Mendonca: None. M.C. Fragoso: None. Introduction: Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome primarily caused by pathogenic variants in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene. The individuals affected are typically young, with a cancer risk of approximately 90% in lifetime. Parents choosing to test their young children face the dilemma of when to disclose their own or the child's status and when to initiate cancer screening if LFS is detected. This process presents psychosocial challenges for both parents and affected children. Both providers and patients question whether the surveillance benefits outweigh the psychological burden of knowing LFS status and screening-related concerns, creating ambivalence toward genetic testing decisions.Case Report: We describe a 6-year-old male with Li-Fraumeni syndrome carrier of the germline pathogenic variant TP53 c.818G&amp;gt;A (p.R273H) in heterozygous (exon 8).In the family history, there are three relatives with advanced tumor cases, with the grandmother already deceased, the mother undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and the cousin being cancer-free for 10 years.The patient in question had no gestational complications. No consanguinity between parents. No signs or symptoms of hormonal hyperfunction. As proposed in the literature, Li-Fraumeni Syndrome patients should undergo frequent screening for early tumor detection, the patient began screening according to the Toronto protocol in 2018, at the age of 1 year and 7 months, through cranial and thoracic MRI, abdominal ultrasound, and annual hormonal assays. In the thoracic MRI conducted in February 2023, an enlarged and heterogeneously signaling thymus was identified, with a nodular formation (absent in previous exams), measuring about 2.5 cm. Facing suspicion of a thymoma, thymic carcinoma, or lymphoma, a biopsy guided by tomography in March 2023 was done. Histological examination was compatible with primary thymic neoplasia. During follow-up, a significant growth of the mass to 9 cm was observed. The patient underwent surgical treatment in August 2023 with resection of the mediastinal mass, and the anatomopathological examination revealed undifferentiated thymic carcinoma, followed in conjunction with the pediatric oncology team. The dilemma is about the adjuvant radiotherapy since the possibility to acquire a new tumor radio-induced such as sarcoma. We proposed to follow with MRI imaging each 3 months and if minimal signal of recurrence he will underwent radiotherapy. Conclusion: In addition to the intrinsic rarity of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, this case draws attention to the possibility of a thymic tumor, an extremely rare neoplasm in syndrome carriers. In the literature, only scattered case reports show this association. Furthermore, this case reinforces the importance of systematic screening for investigating possible neoplasms in this susceptible population. Presentation: 6/1/2024