Significant Age Group Differences Research Articles

The Prevalence of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Among Children in Beijing Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is an important pathogen of community acquired pneumonia. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the prevalence of some infectious respiratory diseases has varied. Epidemiological features of M. pneumoniae in children from Beijing (China) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated.MethodsBetween June 2016 and May 2021, a total of 569,887 children with respiratory infections from Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Beijing, China) were included in this study. M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody in serum specimens of these patients was tested by a rapid immunochromatographic assay kit. The relevant clinical data of M. pneumoniae-positive cases were also collected, and analyzed by RStudio software.ResultsThe results showed that 13.08% of collected samples were positive for M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody. The highest annual positive rate was 17.59% in 2019, followed by 12.48% in 2018, 12.31% in 2017, and 11.73% in 2016, while the rate dropped to 8.9% in 2020 and 4.95% in 2021, with significant difference. Among the six years, the positive rates in summer and winter seasons were significantly higher than those in spring and autumn seasons (p < 0.001). The positive rate was the highest in school-age children (22.20%), and lowest in the infant group (8.76%, p < 0.001). The positive rate in boys (11.69%) was lower than that in girls (14.80%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in different seasons, age groups, or genders before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that an M. pneumoniae outbreak started from the summer of 2019 in Beijing. After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the end of 2019, the M. pneumoniae positive rates dropped dramatically. This may be due to the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, which effectively controlled the transmission of M. pneumoniae. The relationships between M. pneumoniae positive rates and season, age, and gender were not statistically significant before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN STATIC POSTURAL BALANCE IN KOREAN ELDERLY ADULTS

Poor postural balance has been related to falls in older people. Although fall rates increase with age, age-related declines in postural balance of older people are still unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate age-related changes in the static postural balance ability of Korean elderly adults. Three hundred and eighty-nine normal elderly adults with ages ranging from 57 years to 87 years participated in this study. All elderly adults were instructed to stand in their preferred natural stance on a self-developed force platform. As postural sway variables, peak frequency, mean frequency, mean velocity, and mean distance were calculated from the center of pressure (COP) trajectories in both the medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) directions. The mean velocity in the older-elderly was significantly faster compared to those of the other age groups particularly in the AP direction ([Formula: see text]). In both the ML and AP directions, the older-elderly group showed a greater mean distance compared to the other age groups ([Formula: see text]). Conversely, no significant age group differences were found in mean frequency and peak frequency ([Formula: see text]). Our results mean that the older-elderly group showed postural balance with faster AP sway speed and overall sway size. The results of our study help in the understanding of age-related declines in postural balance for the prevention of falls and the development of a regression model for normative postural balance ability in Korean elderly adults.

Social anxiety disorder in adolescents: Prevalence and subtypes in the Young-HUNT3 study

BackgroundFew studies have examined the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among adolescents and the associated sex-specific fears. No previous studies have reported variance in SAD prevalence among adolescents based on a stepwise diagnostic approach. MethodsUsing various diagnostic thresholds from the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule child version, and the diagnostic criteria from both the 4th and 5th editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), we explored the point prevalence of SAD among a population-based sample of 8216 adolescents aged 13–19 years. ResultsOverall, 2.6% of adolescents met the SAD diagnostic criteria. The prevalence varied from 2.0% to 5.7% depending on the criteria-set. Twice as many females met the overall SAD criteria. The DSM-IV generalized SAD subtype was assigned to 86.5% of the sample, while 3.5% met the DSM-5 performance-only subtype. Compared with males aged 16–19 years, significantly more of those aged 13–15 years met the SAD criteria; no significant age group differences were found among females. ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate variance in SAD prevalence among adolescents based on the diagnostic threshold method. Depending on the threshold applied, SAD prevalence among adolescents varied from 2.0% to 5.7%. Age and sex differences in social fear experiences highlight the importance of considering developmental heterogeneity in SAD, especially for adapting prevention and treatment interventions.

Serum Creatinine versus Corrected Cockcroft-Gault Equation According to Poggio Reference Values in Patients with Arterial Hypertension

Introduction:Serum creatinine is not enough sensitive marker for the evaluation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formula is often used to assess GFR, but it is necessary to correct original one for body surface area (BSA), adipositas, and the creatinine tubular secretion. The values of the estimated creatinine clearance and GFR are considered to Poggio reference ones according to biological parameters (age and gender). The aim of the study was to determine the difference in renal function estimation between serum creatinine and corrected CG equation according to the Poggio reference values in the arterial hypertension patients.Materials and Methods:The research included 124 patients of both gender with arterial hypertension, excluding ones with the already verified chronic kidney disease. We estimated creatinine clearance and GFR by CG method corrected for the BSA, body mass index (BMI), and the creatinine tubular secretion according to Poggio reference values.Results:There was no significant difference in both age and gender groups among patients with physiological and pathological values of the renal function determined by the serum creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance by CG equation corrected for BMI, BSA. In both age and gender groups there was significant difference among subjects with physiological and pathological values of the renal function determined by serum creatinine and estimated GFR by CG method corrected for BMI, BSA, and creatinine tubular secretion.Conclusion:There is the most striking difference in the assessment of renal function between serum creatinine and estimated GFR by CG method with three corrections (BSA, BMI, the creatinine tubular secretion). Estimated GFR by CG method with three corrections can help in the early diagnosis of renal dysfunction and optimal treatment in patients with arterial hypertension.

Retrospective Study of COVID-19 Positive Paediatric Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Mizoram, India

Introduction: The clinical presentation and the difference in the pattern of presentation of Paediatric Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) positive cases between the first wave and second wave have not been studied in North Eastern region of India. Aim: To study the socio-demographic factors, clinical presentations and also to compare the pattern of presentation of Paediatric COVID-19 positive cases between the first COVID 19 wave and second COVID-19 wave. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study of 85 Paediatric COVID-19 positive cases admitted in Zoram Medical College, Mizoram, India, during the period from July 2020 to June 2021 was conducted. Children of age group &lt;14 years were included in the study. The data like age, sex, type of testing done, possible primary contact, symptoms , treatment given and prognosis were collected from the case sheets in Medical Records Department. Descriptive analysis was carried out by mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables, frequency and proportion for categorical variables. Categorical outcomes were compared between study groups using Chi square test/Fisher's Exact test. Results: Records of total of 85 participants were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the study population was 6.59 years. 40 (52.94%) were male patients. Majority , 46 (54.11%) have contracted the infection from their parents. The most common symptoms reported were fever (36.47%), cough (24.71%) and cold (22.4%). A total of 9.42% had co-morbidity. The mean duration of hospital stay was 10.14±5.2 days. In age group &lt;5 years, (58.33%) were symptomatic when compared with 5 to 10 years (16.67%) and 25% in children &gt;10 years (p-value= &lt;0.001). There was a significant difference in the mean age group admitted in first wave (2.91±2.94 years) versus second wave (11.38±2.91 years) (p-value &lt;0.001). Conclusion: The children less than 5 years were more symptomatic when compared with other age groups. Also we can see a transition in age group being infected and it was greater than 10 years old in the second wave. Hence there is an urgent need to vaccinate the population less than 18 years old.

The Effect of Advanced Age on the Electrode-Neuron Interface in Cochlear Implant Users.

This study aimed to determine the effect of advanced age on how effectively a cochlear implant (CI) electrode stimulates the targeted cochlear nerve fibers (i.e., the electrode-neuron interface [ENI]) in postlingually deafened adult CI users. The study tested the hypothesis that the quality of the ENI declined with advanced age. It also tested the hypothesis that the effect of advanced age on the quality of the ENI would be greater in basal regions of the cochlea compared to apical regions. Study participants included 40 postlingually deafened adult CI users. The participants were separated into two age groups based on age at testing in accordance with age classification terms used by the World Health Organization and the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online bibliographic database. The middle-aged group included 16 participants between the ages of 45 and 64 years and the elderly group included 24 participants older than 65 years. Results were included from one ear for each participant. All participants used Cochlear Nucleus CIs in their test ears. For each participant, electrophysiological measures of the electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) were used to measure refractory recovery functions and amplitude growth functions (AGFs) at three to seven electrode sites across the electrode array. The eCAP parameters used in this study included the refractory recovery time estimated based on the eCAP refractory recovery function, the eCAP threshold, the slope of the eCAP AGF, and the negative-peak (i.e., N1) latency. The electrode-specific ENI was evaluated using an optimized combination of the eCAP parameters that represented the responsiveness of cochlear nerve fibers to electrical stimulation delivered by individual electrodes along the electrode array. The quality of the electrode-specific ENI was quantified by the local ENI index, a value between 0 and 100 where 0 and 100 represented the lowest- and the highest-quality ENI across all participants and electrodes in the study dataset, respectively. There were no significant age group differences in refractory times, eCAP thresholds, N1 latencies or local ENI indices. Slopes of the eCAP AGF were significantly larger in the middle-aged group compared to the elderly group. There was a significant effect of electrode location on each eCAP parameter, except for N1 latency. In addition, the local ENI index was significantly larger (i.e., better ENI) in the apical region than in the basal and middle regions of the cochlea for both age groups. The model developed in this study can be used to estimate the quality of the ENI at individual electrode locations in CI users. The quality of the ENI is affected by the location of the electrode along the length of the cochlea. The method for estimating the quality of the ENI developed in this study holds promise for identifying electrodes with poor ENIs that could be deactivated from the clinical programming map. The ENI is not strongly affected by advanced age in middle-aged and elderly CI users.

Identification and Validation of a Potent Multi-lncRNA Molecular Model for Predicting Gastric Cancer Prognosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains the third deadliest malignancy in China. Despite the current understanding that the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal function in the growth and progression of cancer, their prognostic value in GC remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to construct a polymolecular prediction model by employing a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network signature obtained by integrated bioinformatics analysis to evaluate patient prognosis in GC. Overall, 1,464 mRNAs, 14,376 lncRNAs, and 73 microRNAs (miRNAs) were found to be differentially expressed in GC. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that these differentially expressed RNAs were mostly enriched in neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, chemical carcinogenesis, epidermis development, and digestion, which were correlated with GC. A ceRNA network consisting of four lncRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 12 mRNAs were constructed. We identified four lncRNAs (lnc00473, H19, AC079160.1, and AC093866.1) as prognostic biomarkers, and their levels were quantified by qRT-PCR in cancer and adjacent noncancerous tissue specimens. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses suggested statistically significant differences in age, stage, radiotherapy, and risk score groups, which were independent predictors of prognosis. A risk prediction model was created to test whether lncRNAs could be used as an independent risk predictor of GC or not. These novel lncRNAs’ signature independently predicted overall survival in GC (p < 0.001). Taken together, this study identified a ceRNA and protein–protein interaction networks that significantly affect GC, which could be valuable for GC diagnosis and therapy.

Remote Assessment Preferences of NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Participants During COVID-19 Pandemic

During the pandemic older people saw transformations in their social connections due to lockdowns and other restrictions. Technology provided one mechanism for them to stay connected with others, but technology may not be accessible or desirable for everyone. Gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, age and other factors enhance or limit engagement with technology. This project explored experiences of older people in Mexico and Scotland during the pandemic and examined the potential of everyday technology to help maintain social connectedness. A mixed methods approach included secondary analysis of large-scale datasets alongside primary data. Online semi-structured interviews and focus groups were carried out with 36 older people in Mexico and 23 older people in Scotland. Sampling was purposeful creating a diverse sample across age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The findings demonstrate that advantages and disadvantages accumulated in the life course determine how older people select, optimize and compensate for new ways of staying socially connected during the pandemic in both countries. The use of technologies among older people is further mediated by structural inequalities with differences found between Mexico and Scotland in specific patterns identified. Further, stereotypes about older age and technology use are obstacles to the use of technology, as they affect the perception of self-efficacy by older people. Despite the obstacles, this study has shown that older people have a broad range of resources that have enabled them to cope with the pandemic and utilise technology to maintain social connections. The project offers recommendations to support older people’s human rights.

Different Strokes for Different Folks? Examining a New Measure for Age-Relative Sexual Attitudes

Recent research suggests increasingly permissive attitudes towards sexual activity in later life. Harboring more conservative beliefs especially as one reaches older age, however, may translate into how one views and navigates sexual health changes. A sample of participants (N = 706; Mage = 52.72 years, SD = 9.57, range = 36-79; 60.8% male) was recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to complete a survey on sexual beliefs about age and aging. Participants completed two versions of the Relative Sexual Attitudes Scale (RASA), wherein they were prompted to consider either “someone their own age” or “an older person” in response to items assessing sexual attitudes. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the original five-factor structure, reduce the total items from 31 to 25, and establish measurement equivalence for the 36-54 year-old and 55+ year-old samples. Through a series of profile analyses investigating each subscale, scores did not significantly differ between the two prompts, although significant age-group differences were found with the 36-54 year-old age group reporting more open attitudes than the 55+ year-old age group across all subscales, except the traditional mores subscale. Sexual attitude subscale scores also differed by gender, engagement in partnered sexual activity, and whether one had spoken to a health professional about their sexual health in the past year. The findings support use of the RASA for adults 36 and older and highlight applications to understanding differences in sexual health into later life.

Different Strokes for Different Folks? Examining a New Measure for Age-Relative Sexual Attitudes

Fear of developing dementia is common and has been linked to delays in seeking medical attention (Arlt et al., 2008). We used data from 320 adults (M age = 39.7, SD = 12.3, range 20 – 70) to examine the ways in which objective knowledge and subjective experience with dementia influence positive attitudes toward persons with dementia. We further examined how these constructs related to fear of developing dementia. A path analysis showed the model fit the data well, X2 (DF = 1) = 0.74, p = .39; RMSEA < .001. Objective knowledge and subjective experience were significantly associated with higher allophilia. Allophilia and subjective experiences were associated with personal fear. However, allophilia decreased fear, whereas subjective experiences were associated with increased fear of developing dementia. To clarify these findings, we conducted a moderated regression in which age was examined as a moderator of the relation between allophilia and fear as well as the relation between subjective experience and fear. Significant results were obtained [F (5, 294) = 10.41, p < .001; R2 = .15]. Age moderated the effect of personal experience on fear. Stronger effects emerged for adults in their 20s compared to those in their 40s; similarly, age exerted a stronger effect for those in their 40s than for those in their 50s. Regarding age effects on the relation between allophilia and fear of dementia, for adults in their 20s and 40s, allophilia reduced fear of dementia. For adults in their 50s, allophilia was associated with higher fear.

Functional Hyperconnectivity during a Stories Listening Task in Magnetoencephalography Is Associated with Language Gains for Children Born Extremely Preterm.

Extreme prematurity (EPT, <28 weeks gestation) is associated with language problems. We previously reported hyperconnectivity in EPT children versus term children (TC) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Here, we aim to ascertain whether functional hyperconnectivity is a marker of language resiliency for EPT children, validating our earlier work with a distinct sample of contemporary well-performing EPT and preterm children with history of language delay (EPT-HLD). A total of 58 children (17 EPT, 9 EPT-HLD, and 32 TC) participated in stories listening during MEG and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 4–6 years. We compared connectivity in EPT and EPT-HLD, investigating relationships with language over time. We measured fMRI activation during stories listening and parcellated the activation map to obtain “nodes” for MEG connectivity analysis. There were no significant group differences in age, sex, race, ethnicity, parental education, income, language scores, or language representation on fMRI. MEG functional connectivity (weighted phase lag index) was significantly different between groups. Preterm children had increased connectivity, replicating our earlier work. EPT and EPT-HLD had hyperconnectivity versus TC at 24–26 Hz, with EPT-HLD exhibiting greatest connectivity. Network strength correlated with change in standardized scores from 2 years to 4–6 years of age, suggesting hyperconnectivity is a marker of advancing language development.

Age group differences in learning-related activity reflect task stage, not learning stage

Healthy aging is accompanied by declines in the ability to learn associations between events, even when their relationship cannot be described. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have attributed these implicit associative learning (IAL) deficits to differential engagement of the hippocampus and basal ganglia in older relative to younger adults in early and late stages of the task, respectively. However, these task stages have been confounded with age group differences in learning performance that emerge later and to a lesser degree in older adults. To disentangle the effects of task stage from learning stage (i.e., when there is significant evidence of learning) on age group differences in the neural substrates of IAL, we acquired fMRI data while 28 younger (20.8 ± 2.3 years) and 22 older (73.6 ± 6.8 years) healthy adults completed the Triplets Learning Task, in which the location of two cues predicted the location of a target with high (HF) or low (LF) frequency. When matched for task stage, results revealed worse learning performance and increased IAL-related activity in the hippocampus during the early stage and in the globus pallidum during the late stage in older relative to younger adults. However, when matched for learning stage, there were no significant age group differences in learning performance or IAL-related activity. Thus, although learning emerges later for older adults, they are engaging similar brain regions as younger adults when learning the associations, suggesting that previous reports of age group differences reflect effects of age on task stage, but not learning stage.

MP02-08 MICROALBUMINURIA AS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF OVERACTIVE BLADDER SYMPTOM EXACERBATION

You have accessJournal of UrologyUrodynamics/Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Female Pelvic Medicine: Non-neurogenic Voiding Dysfunction I (MP02)1 Sep 2021MP02-08 MICROALBUMINURIA AS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF OVERACTIVE BLADDER SYMPTOM EXACERBATION Yuta Kojima, Teppei Okamoto, Masataka Ando, Songee Jung, Shingo Hatakeyama, Atsushi Imai, Hayato Yamamoto, Tohru Yoneyama, Kazuyuki Mori, Takahiro Yoneyama, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, and Chikara Ohyama Yuta KojimaYuta Kojima More articles by this author , Teppei OkamotoTeppei Okamoto More articles by this author , Masataka AndoMasataka Ando More articles by this author , Songee JungSongee Jung More articles by this author , Shingo HatakeyamaShingo Hatakeyama More articles by this author , Atsushi ImaiAtsushi Imai More articles by this author , Hayato YamamotoHayato Yamamoto More articles by this author , Tohru YoneyamaTohru Yoneyama More articles by this author , Kazuyuki MoriKazuyuki Mori More articles by this author , Takahiro YoneyamaTakahiro Yoneyama More articles by this author , Yasuhiro HashimotoYasuhiro Hashimoto More articles by this author , and Chikara OhyamaChikara Ohyama More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000001963.08AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Although exact etiologies of overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear, one of the believed theories to describe the disease process involves ischemia, vascular damage, and endothelial dysfunction of the bladder. Microalbuminuria (leakage of small amount of albumin into urine) is deeply related to vascular endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that microalbuminuria may have a significant association with OAB symptom exacerbation. We investigated the longitudinal association between microalbuminuria and OAB symptoms in a community-residential population. METHODS: This longitudinal study investigated 561 participants of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in both 2015 and 2019 in Japan. Microalbuminuria and OAB symptoms were assessed using the urine albuminuria creatinine ratio (ACR) and the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), respectively. Urine ACR was defined as high if ≥7.4 mg/gCr. Differences in OABSS between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated as ∆OABSS. Participants were divided into two groups according to DOABSS: high (∆OABSS >1) and control (≤1). We used baseline data acquired in 2015, such as urine ACR, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and arterial stiffness expressed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Predictive factors of a ∆OABSS >1 were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: This study included 332 women and 229 men. Of those, 86 (34 males and 52 females) were classified into the ∆OABSS >1 group. There were significant group differences in age, renal function, and hemoglobin A1c. Participants in the DOABSS >1 had a higher prevalence of PSQI >5, baPWV ≥1400 sec/cm, and urine ACR ≥7.4 mg/gCr (56% vs. 38%, p=0.003) than those in the control group. Multivariable analysis revealed that PSQI >5 (odds ratio [OR]; 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.47–4.69, p=0.001) and urine ACR ≥7.4 mg/gCr (OR; 1.76, 95% CI; 1.04–2.98, p=0.034) were selected as independent risk factors for ∆OABSS >1, whereas baPWV ≥1400 sec/cm was not selected. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria represented by urine ACR was an independent predictor of OAB symptom exacerbation; therefore, its predictive value might be stronger than baPWV. Further studies are necessary to reveal the exact mechanism underlying the association between urine ACR and OAB. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e14-e14 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Yuta Kojima More articles by this author Teppei Okamoto More articles by this author Masataka Ando More articles by this author Songee Jung More articles by this author Shingo Hatakeyama More articles by this author Atsushi Imai More articles by this author Hayato Yamamoto More articles by this author Tohru Yoneyama More articles by this author Kazuyuki Mori More articles by this author Takahiro Yoneyama More articles by this author Yasuhiro Hashimoto More articles by this author Chikara Ohyama More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

Clinical and Postoperative Outcomes of Cancer Surgeries during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study with its Pre-COVID Surgical Audit at Five Major Tertiary Care Hospitals’ Cancer Departments in India

Abstract Introduction There has been an exponential rise in number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive infections since March 23, 2020. However, cancer management cannot take a backseat. Objective The aim of this study was to identify any difference in the complication and mortality rates for the cancer patients operated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of five centers situated in different parts of India. Variables such as demographics, intraoperative, and postoperative complications were compared between COVID-19 (group A—March 23, 2020–May 22, 2020) and pre-COVID time period (group B—January 1 to January 31, 2020). Results One-hundred sixty-eight cancer surgeries were performed in group B as compared with 148 patients who underwent oncosurgeries in group A. Sixty-two percent lesser cancer surgeries were performed in the COVID-19 period as compared with the specific pre-COVID-19 period. There was no significant difference in age group, gender, comorbidities, and type of cancer surgeries. Except for the duration of surgery, all other intraoperative parameters like blood loss and intraoperative parameters were similar in both the groups. Minimally invasive procedures were significantly lesser in group A. Postoperative parameters including period of intensive care unit stay, rate of infection, need for the change of antibiotics, and culture growth were similar for both the groups. While minor complication like Clavien-Dindo classification type 2 was significantly higher for group A, all other complication rates were similar in the groups. Also, postoperatively no COVID-19-related symptoms were encountered in the study group. A subset analysis was done among the study groups between those tested preoperatively for COVID-19 versus those untested showed no difference in intraoperative and postoperative parameters. No health-care worker was infected from the patient during the time period of this study. Conclusion Our study shows that there is no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates in surgeries performed during COVID-19 pandemic as compared with non-COVID-19 time period.

Evaluation of Nicotine Dependence in Adult Population of Eastern Nepal

Background Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of premature death in the world. Tobacco-related deaths are associated with cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, oral potentially malignant disorders, cancer, others. Moreover there is also associated nicotine dependence which might result to numerous tobacco-associated diseases.&#x0D; Objective This study was conducted to analyze the degree of nicotine dependence considering its potential health risk, in the Eastern region of Nepal.&#x0D; Method A descriptive questionnaire-based study was conducted among current tobacco users of six districts of Eastern Nepal. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependency for Smokeless Tobacco (FTNDST) questionnaire were used for tobacco smokers and chewers, respectively.&#x0D; Result Of the total participants, 836 were males and 359 females, among whom 736 were active tobacco smokers and 432 chewers, 34.8% had tried to stop consuming tobacco and 306 (25.6%) had oral lesions in white or red forms. Very low nicotine dependence was found among 244 (31.47%) tobacco smokers and 37 (8.56%) chewers whereas 36 (4.71%) smokers and 103 (23.84%) chewers had very high nicotine dependence. The mean score for FTND was 3.73±2.37 and 5.74±2.12 for FTND-ST. A significant difference in duration and age group with FTND score was observed, however not with FTND-ST.&#x0D; Conclusion The information regarding degree of nicotine dependence can be used as baseline information for planning of preventive strategies and implementation of tobacco cessation and control programs.

Hyperglucagonemia Does Not Explain the β-Cell Hyperresponsiveness and Insulin Resistance in Dysglycemic Youth Compared With Adults: Lessons From the RISE Study.

To determine whether β-cell hyperresponsiveness and insulin resistance in youth versus adults in the Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) Study are related to increased glucagon release. In 66 youth and 350 adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive), we performed hyperglycemic clamps and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). From clamps we quantified insulin sensitivity (M/I), plasma fasting glucagon and C-peptide, steady-state glucagon and C-peptide at glucose of 11.1 mmol/L, and arginine-stimulated glucagon (acute glucagon response [AGR]) and C-peptide (ACPRmax) responses at glucose >25 mmol/L. Mean ± SD fasting glucagon (7.63 ± 3.47 vs. 8.55 ± 4.47 pmol/L; P = 0.063) and steady-state glucagon (2.24 ± 1.46 vs. 2.49 ± 1.96 pmol/L, P = 0.234) were not different in youth and adults, respectively, while AGR was lower in youth (14.1 ± 5.2 vs. 16.8 ± 8.8 pmol/L, P = 0.001). Significant age-group differences in insulin sensitivity, fasting C-peptide, steady-state C-peptide, and ACPRmax were not related to glucagon. Fasting glucose and glucagon were positively correlated in adults (r = 0.133, P = 0.012) and negatively correlated in youth (r = -0.143, P = 0.251). In both age-groups, higher fasting glucagon was associated with higher fasting C-peptide (youth r = 0.209, P = 0.091; adults r = 0.335, P < 0.001) and lower insulin sensitivity (youth r = -0.228, P = 0.066; adults r = -0.324, P < 0.001). With comparable fasting glucagon, youth had greater C-peptide and lower insulin sensitivity. OGTT suppression of glucagon was greater in youth. Youth with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive) have hyperresponsive β-cells and lower insulin sensitivity, but their glucagon concentrations are not increased compared with those in adults. Thus, α-cell dysfunction does not appear to explain the difference in β-cell function and insulin sensitivity in youth versus adults.

Evaluation of scrotal circumference and testosterone levels at different ages of Gayo buffalo as local animal genetic resources

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the scrotum circumference and testosterone levels at various ages of the Gayo buffalo. This study involved 10 Gayo buffalo with four different age groups I: (1.0–2.0), II (2.1–3.0), III (3.1–4.0), IV (4.1–5.0). Blood serum sampling, measurement of scrotal circumference, and age were carried out in Central Aceh regency. The analysis of blood serum testosterone levels was carried out in the physiology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universitas Syiah Kuala. Data on testosterone levels, scrotal circumference, and age were analyzed for variance and continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test for data with significant differences. Simple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between scrotal circumference, age, and testosterone levels. The results of the analysis in the age group and the concentration of the hormone testosterone showed significant differences (P <0.05). The age group of 3.1 to 4.0 years was significantly different from the age group of 1.0–2.0, 2.1–3.0 years, and 4.1–5.0 years. The results of the analysis on the scrotal circumference and testosterone concentration showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in various age groups. There was a significant relationship (P<0.05) between the concentration of the testosterone hormone with age and scrotal circumference, with a regression equation Y= 1.009-0.076X1+0.002X2, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 1 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 1. These results indicated that scrotal circumference and age greatly influenced the concentration of the testosterone hormone of Gayo buffalo. The conclusion was that age affected the scrotal circumference, but it did not affect the concentration of the testosterone hormone. Gayo buffalo aged 3.1–4.0 and 4.1–5.0 years had a stronger correlation than Gayo buffalo aged 1.0–2.0 and 2.1–3.0 years to scrotal circumference and testosterone concentration.

The Pilot Study of the Hazard Perception Test for Evaluation of the Driver’s Skill Using Virtual Reality

Background: Although various technologies are used to evaluate driving skill, there are some limitations such as the limited range of the monitor and the possible risk of causing cybersickness. The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in the hazard perception and cybersickness experienced between novice and experienced drivers measured in a VR hazard perception test with a head-mounted display (HMD). Methods: The novice (n = 32) and the experienced drivers (n = 36) participated in the hazard perception test through the VR of an HMD. Results: The total number of identified hazards was 1071 in the novice drivers and 1376 in the experienced drivers. Two of the hazards appeared to be only identifiable through the HMD. A chi-square test revealed that experienced drivers were more likely to identify the hazards than the novice drivers (p &lt; 0.05). The novice drivers appeared to identify “hazard prediction of the current behavior of other road users” more than other hazard types, unlike the experienced group. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire scores indicated no significant difference in the different age or gender groups (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the VR hazard perception test may be useful for evaluating patients’ driving skills.

566 Persistent Sleep Apnea and Desaturation in Preterm Children at 18 Months of Age at High Altitude (2640 M)

Abstract Introduction Children born at term who live at high altitude (HA) (≥ 2500 m) have different respiratory patterns from those that live at sea level. It is essential to determine these patterns in preterm children due to their high risk of Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS). The evolution of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), desaturation index (ODI), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) is unknown in this group at HA. The objective was to characterize the respiratory patterns during sleep of preterm children living at HA and compare it with those of healthy children born at term. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in Bogotá, Colombia (altitude: 2640 m). We included 302 children, 127 were preterm with an average of gestational age of 31weeks (SD: 2.9) and an average weight at birth of 1600 g (SD: 594) and 175 healthy full-term infants. Three groups were defined according to age: Group I: 3–4 months, Group II: 6–7 months,, Group III: 10–18 months. All children underwent nocturnal polysomnogram to evaluate their respiratory variables: AHI, average and minimum SpO2, ODI, and T90 during sleep and analyzed the data according to the parameters of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Results 302 polysomnograms were performed, 54.3% were girls and were distributed by groups as follows: Group I:105 patients (34.8%), 16 preterm, Group II: 107 patients (35.4%), 46 preterm and Group III: 90 patients (29.8%), 65 preterm. We observed higher respiratory parameters within each age strata in premature infants compared to children born at term. Preterm infants had higher ODI, AHI, obstructive apnea hypopnea index (O-AHI), and Central Apnea hypopnea index (C-AHI). Although the effect decreases over time, we found a significant difference in the first age group. There was a high persistence index in children with a history of preterm birth living at high altitude. We also found a significant decrease in AHI, ODI across time in healthy and preterm children p&amp;lt;0.01 Conclusion Premature children living at HA persist with higher ODI and AHI compared to children of similar ages born at term. The high desaturation index indicates the presence of intermittent hypoxia that persists in these children over time Support (if any):

Respiratory Tract Infection Pathogen Spectrum Study of 376 Pneumoconiosis Inpatients in Chengdu

To investigate the status of infections caused by respiratory pathogens and the patterns of infections caused by pathogens in different seasons, age groups and stages of pneumoconiosis so as to explore the pathogen spectrum of respiratory tract infections in pneumoconiosis patients. The sputum samples of 376 pneumoconiosis patients admitted to an occupational disease hospital in Chengdu between January, 2017 and October, 2019 were collected. Clinical information of the patients was collected and lab tests were conducted to check for 23 kinds of common respiratory viruses, bacteria and fungi in the sputum. The relationship between seasons, ages, and different stages of pneumoconiosis and the pathogen detection rate was analyzed. In the 376 sputum samples, the detection rates of pathogens, viruses, bacteria and fungi were 42.29% (159/376), 32.98% (124/376), 9.57% (36/376) and 6.12% (23/376), respectively. The six pathogens with the highest detection rates were parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida krousei. The severity of respiratory tract infection did not show significant difference in different seasons, age groups, and pneumoconiosis stages. The pathogen spectrum of respiratory tract infections in patients with pneumoconiosis is complicated and the proportion of viral infection is high. However, the severity of the infection is not associated with age, seasonal, or pneumoconiosis staging differences.