Significant Positive Correlation Research Articles

Assessing Population Well-Being in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive National Survey Using the WHO-05 Index and Self-Rated Health Metrics

Introduction: The well-being of populations is crucial for understanding nations’ public health and progress. With its ongoing transformation and development objectives, Saudi Arabia emphasizes its residents’ quality of life and well-being. Recent surveys and health indicators have underlined the nation’s focus on enhancing population well-being. Aim: This study aimed to assess the overall level of well-being of the population living in Saudi Arabia using the WHO-5 index and self-rated health (SRH) metrics. Subject and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among thirty-nine thousand five hundred and sixty-two people from the general population in Saudi Arabia, citizens and residents, including all adult age groups (>18 years) and both genders. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the Saudi adult population using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic characteristics, the five-item Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the self-rated health status. Results: Based on SRH, 77.4% were considered a healthy group. Male gender participants who had a better education were more likely to report a favorable SRH. According to WHO-5, poor well-being was seen in 26% of the population, and the rest had good well-being (74%). Independent predictors for good well-being include increasing age and educational level and being unemployed. Interestingly, we found a positive significant correlation between SRH and WHO-5 scores (r = 0.371; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Poor well-being was common among the general population. Independent risk factors for poor well-being include female gender and Saudi nationality, while increasing age, male gender, and higher education were significant predictors of healthy SRH. More longitudinal studies are needed to extract more data on this nation’s growing prevalence of poor self-rated health status.

In degenerative mitral regurgitation a combined speckle tracking analysis predicts right ventricular to pulmonary circulation uncoupling

Abstract Background Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) and left atrial (LA) strain evaluation by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) have emerged as prognostic index in patients affected by degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR). In this setting, the coupling between right ventricular (RV) function and the pulmonary circulation (PC) has demonstrated to be associated with cardiovascular outcome. However, the prevalence of RV to PC uncoupling in patients undergoing surgery for DMR and its relationship with left ventricular (LV) and LA functioning has poorly been investigated. Aims To investigate the determinants of longitudinal LV systolic and LA function, and their association with RV-to-PC coupling in a cohort of patients with DMR undergoing mitral valve surgery. Methods 380 consecutive patients affected by DMR who underwent mitral surgery (repair or replacement) were retrospectively enrolled. LV longitudinal systolic function was studied with GLS and LA function was evaluated analyzing LA strain at peak relaxation (Global peak atrial longitudinal strain). RV-to PC coupling was studied with TAPSE/PAPS ratio considering a cut-off of 0,40 mm/mmHg and correlated with LV and LA strain. Speckle tracking echocardiography was performed offline and all patients were in sinus rhythm. Results A total of 380 eligible patients (mean age 55±14 y, 66% male) who were admitted for mitral valve surgery at San Raffaele hospital (85% repair, 15% replacement) for hemodynamically significant DMR were retrospectively enrolled. Mean hospital stay was 11±8 days. At baseline, 70% of patients exhibited an increased left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) size. However, a preserved LA reservoir function (mean GPALS 27.6±11) and LV longitudinal systolic function (mean GLS -20.8±3) was found. Interestingly, GLS emerged as a strong determinant of LA reservoir strain with a significant direct correlation observed between GLS and GPALS values (r = 0.4 CI 95% 0.3-0.6; p<0.01, Figure 1). Additionally, when correlated with TAPSE/PAPS ratio, patients with lower TAPSE/PAPS (<0.4 mm/mmHg) exhibited significantly lower values of Global Longitudinal Strain and LA reservoir strain (TAPSE/PAPS<0.4 mm/mmHg: GLS -17±7% and GPALS 22.7±11.3% vs TAPSE/PAPS≥0.4 mm/mmHg: GLS -22±8% and GPALS 27.8±12.7%; p<0.01, Figure 2). Conclusions In DMR, LV GLS represents a strong determinant of LA reservoir function with a strong association between echo-derived measures of LA mechanics and LV longitudinal systolic function. In this context, a combined speckle-tracking analysis of LV and LA dynamics was able to predict the right ventricular coupling with the pulmonary circulation, underlying that the deterioration of LV and LA dynamics favors pulmonary venous congestion and vascular remodeling, ultimately affecting the right ventricle. A multiparametric approach in this subset of patients appears of relevance to ease risk-stratification, potentially improving the long-term outcome.

Selection criteria and yield stability in a large collection of African yam bean [Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich) Harms] accessions

Abstract African yam bean (AYB) is an underutilized legume with significant potential for food security in sub-Saharan Africa, yet limited research exists on optimizing its seed yield through selective breeding. In this study, the seed yield (SY) performance and relative importance of some yield-related traits on SY in AYB were assessed. One hundred and ninety-six accessions of AYB were evaluated for 2 years in three agro-ecologies of Nigeria. The experimental design was a 14 × 14 lattice design with three replicates. Data were recorded on SY and 13 SY-related traits. Positive significant genotypic correlations were found between SY and 11 of these traits. Pod length (PL) had a negative significant relationship (rg = −0.44**) with SY. Path coefficient analysis identified days to maturity (DM), pod weight (PW), shelling percentage (SP), number of seeds per pod (NSPD), 100-seed weight (HSW) and seed thickness (ST) as traits with positive direct effects on SY. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed highly significant accession, environment, accession × environment interaction and interaction principal components effects for SY. Accessions TSs-119, TSs-101, 138A, TSs-4, TSs-157A and TSs-61 were identified as superior and stable, and should be considered for further breeding purposes. Selection criteria for improved SY in AYB should include DM, PW, SP, NSPD, HSW and ST. The identified stable, high-yielding accessions and key yield-related traits provide a framework for accelerating AYB improvement across diverse agro-ecologies.

Seasonal Incidence of Shoot and Fruit Borer [Earias vittella (Fab.)] on Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)] in Relation to Abiotic Factors

The present investigation was carried out during kharif season 2023 at Agricultural Research Farm of RBS College Bichpuri, Agra (Uttar Pradesh). During the investigation, it has been revealed that the infestation of the shoot and fruit borer, Earias vittella (Fab.) on okra during the kharif season commenced from shoots 31th SMW (3.20%) and fruit borer 35th SMW (3.20%). The infestation ranged from shoot (3.20 - 29.70%) and fruit borer (3.20 - 36.42%), with the peak occurring in the 36th (29.70) and 39th (36.42) SMW and continuing until harvesting. The percentage of shoot and fruit borer infestation has a positive significant correlation with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, evening relative humidity and wind velocity. However, morning relative humidity, rainfall and sunshine hour has a negative significant correlation during kharif season 2023.

Exploring the Feasibility of Head-Tracking Data for Cybersickness Prediction in Virtual Reality

Cybersickness remains a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of virtual reality (VR) technology. Traditional methods for predicting cybersickness rely on self-reported questionnaires or physiological signals from specialized sensors, which have their limitations. This study explores the potential of using real-time, easily acquired head-tracking data (HTD) from standard VR headsets as a scalable alternative for estimating cybersickness. Twelve participants engaged in a VR session using an Oculus Quest 2 headset while their HTD were recorded. Kinematic metrics such as linear and angular velocity, acceleration, and jerk were computed from the HTD, including positional and angular parameters. Participants’ cybersickness levels were assessed using the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire. While exploratory data analysis revealed no significant direct correlation between individual kinematic variables and cybersickness scores, machine learning models were employed to identify predictive patterns. Subsequently, four regression models, including Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Support Vector Machines, were trained and evaluated using the computed kinematic features to predict the cybersickness score. Among these, the Gradient Boosting model demonstrated superior performance, accurately predicting cybersickness scores with normalized differences less than 3.08% on unseen data. This approach offers a scalable and practical solution for real-time cybersickness prediction in VR applications and compliments other techniques that rely on physiological sensors, hardware, or user profiles.

Associations between Social Media Usage and Disordered Eating: Mediated By Body Image Concerns and Moderated By Impulsivity

The contemporary research was executed to explore the association amidst use of social media and disordered eating behaviours mediated by concerns about body image and moderated by impulsivity. The sample taken for our research was students of AJK University. Through our research investigation, we attempted to find out the difference of usage of social media, disordered eating behaviours, concerns about body image and impulsivity in proportion to the demographic variables (gender, age, psychological illness). Our research sample was consisted of 300 university students from various departments of university. Social media usage scale (SMUS), body image concerns (BICS), Barrat impulsivity scale revised_21 and eating attitude test (EAT) were implemented on sample students. Our research questionnaire contained 100 items and each questionnaire was administered to sample of 300 students. We used the software of SPSS for analysis of our data. We conducted the analysis of correlation to explore the association between use of social media and disordered eating behaviours and our research findings indicated that there is a positive significant correlation between use of social media and disordered eating behaviours and BICS significantly mediates the association of usage of social media and disordered eating behaviours and BISR significantly moderates association of usage of social media and disordered eating behaviours. The results of SPSS indicated males have higher scores on SMUS, BICS and females have higher scores on impulsivity and eating attitudes. Moreover; younger adults perform higher scores on SMUS, BICS while adolescents perform higher scores on impulsivity and eating attitudes and individuals suffering from psychological illness tend to perform higher on SMUS, BICS, BISR with low eating attitudes than individuals with psychological illness.

Mo and Sn exposure associated with the increased of bone mineral density.

Bone mineral density (BMD) measured by T-score is strongly associated with bone health, but research on its association with metals in humans body remains limited. To investigate the relationship between metal exposure and BMD, numbers of 159 participants in eastern China were studied. Urine and blood samples were collected and levels of 20 metals in the samples were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Binary Logistic Regression model (BLR) and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were used to explore the relationship between metals and BMD. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) model was further used to explore the effect of multiple metal interactions on BMD. Six metals (Mn, Co, As, Se, Mo, Cd) were selected and the concentrations in blood and urine were compared using Wilcoxon and Spearman tests. In the single-metal model, BLR and GLM commonly showed positive significant correlations between four metals (As, Mo, Se, Sn) in urine and BMD. Strong correlations between five metals (Mn, Co, As, Se, Mo) in blood and urine were observed (P ≤ 0.05). The BKMR model indicated a predominant synergistic effect of urine Mo and Sn, increased co-exposure to these metals is associated with a higher trend of BMD. These findings suggest that exposure to metals is associated with an increased level of BMD in humans. To better understand the impact of metalson bone health, further investigation into the common roles of these metals and their interactions is needed.

Features of structural and functional changes of the brain in patients with schizophrenia

Aim. To establish the features of structural and functional changes in the brain in patients with schizophrenia.Materials and methods. A morphometric analysis of the brain using MRI scans was performed, along with a clinical assessment of the electroencephalogram (EEG) of 35 patients with schizophrenia (20 men and 15 women). The control group included 18 healthy sex- and age-matched individuals (10 men and 8 women). Statistical processing was carried out using the χ2 test, the Fisher’s exact test, and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.Results. Compared to the control group, patients with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to show signs of ventricular dilation (p = 0.039), asymmetry of the lateral ventricles (p = 0.041), periventricular edema (p < 0.001), and enlargement of the subarachnoid space of the cerebellum (p = 0.004). Changes (class >1A) in the functional activity of the brain in the group of patients with schizophrenia were detected in 65.7% of the cases. In more than half of the cases, patients with schizophrenia showed decreased bioelectric activity of the brain (class 2 in 48.6% and class 3 in 11.4%); at the same time, EEG signs of paroxysmal activity were detected in a few patients (class B in 11.4% and class C in 5.7%) (p < 0.001). A statistically significant direct correlation was found between the enlargement of the subarachnoid space of the cerebellum and paroxysmal EEG activity in patients with schizophrenia (r = 0.377; p = 0.044).Conclusion. The findings of our study highlight that the combined use of MRI and EEG can provide important information about brain pathology in schizophrenia. The data obtained are also important for testing the hypothesis on the association between vascular and functional disorders of the brain in patients with schizophrenia.

Character Association and Path Analysis of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) for Yield and Its Attributes

This research sought to determine the associations between bulb yield and other traits and to measure their effects of yield attributes on bulb yield of garlic genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications using twenty garlic genotypes with one standard check variety (HL) at Kulumsa Agricultural Research center, during 2020-2021. Yield and agronomic traits were determined. The data from two years were analyzed separately because the homogeneity of error variances of both seasons were not similar. In both seasons the association analyses indicated that the bulb yield was positively and significantly associated with plant vigor (0.9762), plant height (0.9057), neck thickness (0.5918), leaf width (0.7527), number of clove per bulb (0.766), cloves weight (0.9621), bulb polar diameter (0.9247), pseudo stem length (0.7885), clove height (0.9161), clove diameter (0.6412). Days to maturity and leaf length were negatively correlated with bulb yield at genotypic and phenotypic level. Consequences of path analyses indicated that bulb polar diameter (1.2478), clove height (1.0911), clove weight (0.9621), plant height (0.9057) and plant vigor (0.9762) had the highest positive direct effect on bulb yield at genotype level in first season and number of clove per bulb (0.9971), leaf width (0.9126), neck thickness (0.9912) in the 20221 season. On the other hand, most of the indirect effects of yield components on bulb yield were significant and positive. Because of the significant direct effects and positive correlations of those traits on bulb yield at phenotypic and genotypic levels, may be observed as important traits for garlic genotypes selection programs.

Evaluation of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Adult Attachment Profiles in Patients Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Examination of Their Relationship with Disease Variables.

Background/Objectives: The study aimed to compare the early maladaptive schemas and adult attachment profiles of patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder with those of healthy controls. Another objective of our study was to investigate the potential relationships between disease-related variables-such as the type of depression, number of depressive episodes, history of hospitalization, and suicidal ideation or attempts-and schema and attachment characteristics in the group of patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: The study included 118 patients who presented to the Psychiatry outpatient clinic at Mersin University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between 1 April 2021 and 1 September 2021 and were diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria based on mental state examinations conducted by researchers, as well as 92 healthy volunteers with no history of mental disorders. A sociodemographic data form prepared by the researchers was used to inquire about characteristics such as gender, age, and educational status. Additionally, a clinical data form was designed and implemented by the researchers to gather information regarding DSM-5 specifiers and the patients' clinical histories. The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form-3 was used to evaluate early maladaptive schemas, while adult attachment profiles were assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory II. The severity of depression in the patient group was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS 21, with a p-value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 118 patients, 84 (71.2%) of whom were women and 34 (28.8%) men, along with 92 healthy volunteers, 60 (65.2%) of whom were women and 32 (34.8%) men. The mean age was 41.9 (±13.2) in the patient group and 40.8 (±11.9) in the control group (p > 0.05). The patient group had higher scores than the control group across all schema subtypes and attachment dimensions. Significant differences in certain schemas were observed between patients with chronic depression and those with recurrent depressive episodes, as well as between patients with a single hospitalization history and those with multiple hospitalizations, and between patients with a history of suicide attempts and those without any suicidal ideation or attempts. Positive significant correlations were found between the attachment and schema scores and the severity of depression in both patients and controls. Conclusions: Further research is needed to determine the role of schemas and attachment styles in the development of depression in more detail and to focus on schema and attachment-based therapies in treatment.

Клиновидно-лобный шов: Возрастные, половые особенности и корреляция с краниометрическими параметрами

The purpose of the study was to study the length of the sphenofrontal suture in age and gender aspects, as well as its correlation with craniometric parameters.Methods. The research material consisted of 200 skulls. There were 20 skulls of adolescence age, I adulthood age 68, II adulthood age 72, and elderly age 40. In total, there were 86 male skulls and 114 female skulls. The statistical significance of the difference between the groups' indicators was assessed by the Student-Bonferroni t-test, F-Fisher tests, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test, and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis H-test. A non-parametric ρ-Spearman's rank correlation was used in the study.Results. Analysis of male skulls by age did not reveal a statistically significant difference for the length of the left sphenofrontal suture (PF = 0.177; PH = 0.142). Also, on male skulls, the length of the right sphenofrontal suture values did not have a statistically significant difference (PF = 0.916; PH = 0.936). On female skulls, the value of the studied parameter also did not differ statistically across age periods: for the left sphenofrontal suture (PF = 0.643; PH = 0.688) and for the right sphenofrontal suture (PF = 0.956; PH = 0.880). The left sphenofrontal suture’s length differed statistically significantly between male and female skulls only in adulthood age II (PF < 0.001; PU < 0.001). The length of the left sphenofrontal suture had a statistically significant direct correlation with a large number of craniometric parameters (maximum cranial length, nasio-occipital length, maximum cranial breadth, basion-bregma height, cranial base length, maxilla-alveolar breadth, minimum frontal breadth, upper facial breadth, nasal height, nasal breadth, left orbital height, right orbital height, parietal chord, mastoid height and biasterionic breadth). The length of the right sphenofrontal suture was statistically significantly directly correlated with cranial base length, left orbital height, right orbital height, parietal chord, and biasterionic breadth.Conclusion. Considering that isolated premature synostosis of the sphenofrontal suture has been increasingly identified in clinical practice in recent years, study is of not only theoretical but also practical interest.Key words: sphenofrontal suture, a non-parametric ρ-Spearman's rank correlation, male skulls, female skulls, craniometric parameters

COMPARISON OF LIPID PROFILE IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES MELLITUS

Background: Dyslipidaemiaaccounts as a major contributing factor to the severity of most prevalent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Lipid profile test is being widely used for the diagnosis of abnormal lipid levels acting as a primary diagnostic parameter. The objectives of the current study were to compare lipid profile parameters in patients of cardiovascular diseases with and without diabetes mellitus and to determine the relationship of age and gender with abnormal lipid profile parameters. Material and Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH) Lahore over a period of three months. Total of 94 subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Total sample size was further divided into two groups of 47 individuals in each. Group A included cases (cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes mellitus) and Group B included controls (cardiovascular disease patients without diabetes mellitus). Lipid profile parameters (HDL, LDL, TAG, CHOL, VLDL and CHOL/HDL Ratio) of all individuals were determined and compared. Results: Group A had 23(46.9%) males and 24(53.3%) females whereas, Group B had 26(53.1%) males and 21(46.7%) females. The mean age of Group A and Group B subjects was 64.87 ± 10.1, 61.1 ± 11.5 respectively. Group A had higher abnormal levels of lipid profile parameters as compared to Group B (P values < 0.05). Gender had no association with lipid profile parameters (P values > 0.05). Age had a positive significant correlation with abnormal lipid profile parameters. Group A had higher risk of developing abnormal lipid profile parameters as compared to Group B (RR >1). Conclusion: This study concluded that elderly male and female having cardiovascular disease with diabetes mellitus presented with significantly higher abnormal lipid levels.

The Relationship Between Upper Extremity Anthropometric Measurements and Bioimpedance Analysis With Grip Strength in Female Elite Handball Players

Handball players need to have upper extremity power and sufficient grip strength to be successful. In this context, it was aimed to determine the relationship between upper extremity anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis with grip strength in elite handball players. The study was conducted on 95 female elite handball players aged 18-24. Athletes with any trauma, musculoskeletal system problems, metabolic or systemic diseases that could affect the upper extremity were not included in the study. Stadiometer, electronic scale, digital caliper, inflexible tape measure, hand dynamometer, pinchmeter and skinfold caliper were used for anthropometric measurements, while Tanita MC-780 was used for bioelectrical impedance analysis. Upper extremity length, arm circumference, arm span, forearm length, forearm circumference, hand length, hand width, hand span, wrist medio-lateral diameter, wrist dorso-volar diameter, wrist circumference, tip pinch, key pinch, palmar pinch were found to be statistically significantly positively correlated with grip strength. A positive significant correlation was identified between grip strength and weight, body mass index, basal metabolic rate, waist/hip ratio from bioelectrical impedance analysis. The positive correlation between grip strength and athletes' anthropometric variables demonstrated the effect of hand anthropometry on grip strength in athletes who use their hands to grip a ball or an opponent. The results of this study can be useful for optimizing training programs as well as providing practical applications for talent selection of handball players.

Violencia simbólica y agresión en adultos de la provincia de Lima

The study aims to investigate the relation between symbolic violence and aggression in adults from Lima province. This topic was chosen because of the need to delve into the origin of violence in Lima society, which has the highest levels of violence in the country. The research is quantitative with cross-sectional, non-experimental and correlational design, and it was applied to a sample of 259 adults living in Lima province. The measurement of variables was carried out with the Intra and Inter Gender Symbolic Violence Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire, both instruments shows valid psychometric properties. The results showed a weak positive significant correlation between the variables, which means that greater acceptance and assimilation of symbolic violence is related to higher levels of aggression in the study population.

Factors influencing innovation in the manufacturing industry in Pichincha, Ecuador

The lack of innovation capacity in the Ecuadorian business environment is a problem that affects the competitiveness and sustainability of these organizations in a globalized economy. This research aims to determine the relevant factors that influence the capacity for innovation and are related to corporate results. To achieve this objective, this research proposes an innovation management model that allows systemically visualizing those factors. The model is made up of three primary constructs or categories that interact with each other, which are: knowledge management (KM), innovation capabilities (IC), and financial performance (FP). The scope of the study is the medium-sized manufacturing companies in the province of Pichincha in Ecuador. This research has a quantitative approach; it is relational and not experimental. To explain the innovation management model and the relationship between the constructs, the authors propose hypotheses, which are tested by correlation using multivariate statistical analysis. As a result, it was shown that there is a significant positive and direct correlation between KM, IC, and FP. Likewise, it was also shown that the increase of innovative capacity in the industry depends on a set of factors, such as the strengthening of capacities and motivations of the personnel, an increase in investment in tangible and intangible resources, an increase in research and development, and optimization of costs throughout the production process.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Symptomatic Nasolacrimal Duct Stenosis.

To characterize symptoms and signs for patients with tearing eye(s) and ipsilateral nasolacrimal duct stenosis (NLDS), as defined by delayed fluorescein disappearance test and ocular reflux of saline during gentle irrigation of a patent drainage system. Retrospective case-note review of a consistent grading of 4 symptoms and 7 signs, together with estimates of the degree of fluid reflux and nasal fluid passage on gentle saline syringing. Characteristics, including gender differences, were compared for unilateral or bilateral symptoms. A side-to-side comparison was performed in unilateral cases, and assessed for concordance of signs and/or symptoms. The average age of presentation was 62.4 years in 386 patients (37% male), with a third having unilateral symptoms. Systemic atopy (22%) and chronic nasal disease (27%) were frequent. Patients with unilateral symptoms were significantly younger (males 9.5, females 5.5 years; p < 0.000001) and had shorter symptom duration (p = 0.0025). Three-quarters of asymptomatic sides had objective evidence of nasolacrimal duct stenosis, and there was significant side-to-side concordance for 7/9 clinical signs. Among 640 symptomatic systems, many of the presenting (subjective) symptoms and/or objective signs showed a significant direct or inverse correlation. The lack of laterality- or gender bias for symptoms and signs suggests that patients with nasolacrimal duct stenosis might seek treatment for the epiphora per se, rather than for issues with ocular dominance or visual requirements. The close correlation between subjective symptom-severity and objective estimates of signs suggests that thorough clinical assessment can be very reliable, and that several factors probably contribute to symptoms in these patients.

Retrospective analysis of the causes of uveitis in patients of the ophthalmology department of a multidisciplinary clinic: the place of hyperuricemia

Background. Prolonged, including asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HU) for 7–10 years leads to the formation of sodium monourate deposits in various organs and tissues. Aim. To study the incidence of noninfectious uveitis (NU) caused by HU. Materials and methods. A retrospective evaluation of medical records of 217 patients diagnosed with NU in the ophthalmologic department of the general clinic for 10 years was carried out. Inclusion criteria: excess of serum uric acid values beyond the reference value (464 μmol/L), absence of other reasons explaining uveitis in the medical history. Exclusion criteria: glaucoma, recurrence of uveitis, pathology of ENT organs and oral cavity. Data are presented as median and interquartile range. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used as a criterion to assess the relationship between quantitative variables. The threshold level of statistical significance was taken as 0.05. Results. There were 19 patients, mean age of men – 60 years (54–69 years), mean age of women – 60 years (37–67 years), leukocyte count – 7.8×109 (6.4–9.4×109), SOE – 52.5 mm/h (47–61 mm/h), CRP – 62.6 mg/L (53–68.1 mg/L), MC – 560 μmol/L (531–601 μmol/L). Among the concomitant pathology: cataract was detected in 8 patients (44.4% of the total), hypertension – in 7 (38.9%) patients, CHD in its various forms – in 6 patients (33.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma – in 2 (11.1%) patients, diabetes mellitus – in 1 (5.3%) patient, gout – in 2 (11.1%) patients, and urolithiasis – in 4 (21%) patients. Statistically significant direct correlations were found between uric acid levels with COE (ρ=0.993; p0001), CRP (ρ=0.998; p0001). All identified correlations had strong closeness according to the Cheddock scale. Conclusion. Despite the low incidence of HU-induced NU, examination of serum urate levels is an important diagnostic criterion in recognizing the cause of uveitis.

Both Structural Variant and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Load Impact Lifetime Fitness in a Threatened Bird Species.

The field of conservation genomics is becoming increasingly interested in whether, and how, structural variant (SV) genotype information can be leveraged in the management of threatened species. The functional consequences of SVs are more complex than for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as SVs typically impact a larger proportion of the genome due to their size and thus may be more likely to contribute to load. While the impacts of SV-specific genetic load may be less consequential for large populations, the interplay between weakened selection and stochastic processes means that smaller populations, such as those of the threatened Aotearoa hihi/New Zealand stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta), may harbour a high SV load. Hihi were once confined to a single remnant population, but have been reestablished into six sanctuaries and reserves, often via secondary bottlenecks, resulting in low genetic diversity, low adaptive potential, and inbreeding depression. In this study, we use whole genome resequencing of 30 individuals from the Tiritiri Matangi population to identify the nature and distribution of both SNPs and SVs within this small avian population. We find that SNP and SV individual mutation load is only moderately correlated, likely because SVs arise in regions of high recombination and that are less evolutionarily conserved. Finally, we leverage a long-term monitoring dataset of pedigree and fitness data to assess the impact of SNP and SV mutation loads on individual fitness, and find that SNP and SV realised load had similar negative correlations with lifetime fitness. However, of the masked load metrics, only SVs had a positive significant correlation with lifetime fitness, indicating that masking of deleterious alleles may be more important for SVs than for SNPs. The results of this study indicate that only examining SNPs neglects important aspects of intra-specific variation and that studying SVs has direct implications for linking genetic diversity and genomic health to inform management decisions.

Assessment of the quality of life of oncological patients with skin toxicity depending on telemedicine technologies

Relevance. Approximately 90–100% of patients have skin toxicity, which manifests itself in the form of acne-like rashes (papulo-pustular rash), paronychia, hair changes, xerosis, itching. Skin manifestations cause psychological, emotional and physical discomfort, which may be the reason for dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment, and may reduce the effectiveness of antitumor therapy. The use of modern telemedicine systems, such as online consultations and remote monitoring, are designed to make life easier for patients and are now increasingly available and in demand among the general population. The aim of the study. Assessment of the quality of life in cancer patients receiving EGFR inhibitors, depending on the use of remote consultations and remote monitoring.Materials and methods. 140 cancer patients were included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups: in group 1 (study group) n=70, the mobile application «My Health» was used for online-consultation with a dermatologist, in group 2 (comparison group) n=70, offline consultations were used. During the consultations, skin toxicity was assessed using CTCAE scales version 5.0. To analyze the level of quality of life, a questionnaire of the dermatological quality of life index (DLQI) was used, which patients of each group filled out on the day of the start of the study, then after 4 weeks.Results. In patients of the first group, there was a positive dynamic in the state of the skin process compared with the initial indicators. There was a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life, a decrease in the average score for all indicators. In patients of the second group, the positive dynamics of the skin process was not so obvious, as evidenced by the results of the questionnaire. There was a statistically significant strong direct correlation between the value of the results of DLQI and the severity of the disease (rs=0.721 p &lt;0.001).Conclusion. Skin toxicity is a complex interdisciplinary problem that requires an integrated approach between oncologists and dermatologists. Remote monitoring is an accessible form of communication between a doctor and a patient, which contributes to the timely control of skin toxicity in cancer patients receiving EGFR inhibitors.

THE ROLE OF ASPROSIN IN LIPID METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Background. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent metabolic disease that significantly affects patients' quality of life and increases mortality due to complications. Understanding the relationships between T2DM and chronic pancreatitis (CP) is very important, as both conditions significantly impact metabolic processes in the body, particularly lipid metabolism. Asprosin, a recently discovered adipokine, plays a key role in regulating glucose homeostasis and appetite. Its elevated levels are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and T2DM, making it a potential biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring metabolic disorders. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between asprosin levels and lipid metabolism indicators in patients with T2DM and CP. Materials and Methods. The study included 100 patients treated at the Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital from 2020 to 2022, divided into two groups: the first group included 70 patients with T2DM and CP, and the second group consisted of 30 patients with T2DM. The control group consisted of 20 relatively healthy men and women of appropriate age. Asprosin levels were determined by indirect non-competitive heterogeneous enzyme immunoassay. Lipid profile indicators were determined by standard biochemical methods. Correlations were assessed using Pearson's linear correlation coefficient. Results. In the group of patients with T2DM and CP, the level of total cholesterol (TC) was 5.01 ± 0.78 mmol/L, triglycerides (TG) – 2.29±0.84 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) – 1.19±0.19 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) – 3.32±1.1 mmol/L, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) – 0.92±0.47 mmol/L. In the T2DM group, the levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were 5.35±1.15, 1.91±0.64, 1.03±0.14, 3.5±0.8, and 0.96±0.51 mmol/L, respectively. In the control group, these indicators were 4.25±1.08, 1.01±0.25, 1.31±0.22, 2.35±0.55, and 0.65±0.21 mmol/L, respectively. The levels of all studied lipid metabolism indicators exhibited statistically significant differences between the control group and both the first and second groups. The highest asprosin level (10.06±3.56 ng/mL) was noted in the group with comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic pancreatitis. In the patients with isolated type 2 diabetes mellitus significant moderate correlations between asprosin and total cholesterol, and LDL-C (direct) and HDL-C (reverse) levels were established. In the group of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic pancreatitis, significant moderate direct correlations between asprosin and total cholesterol, and LDL-C levels were also established. Conclusions. Asprosin is a new adipokine associated with lipid metabolism disorders, that making it a potential target for therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. Further research is needed to better understand the role of asprosin in the pathogenesis of these diseases and to develop new approaches to their treatment.