Pill Use Research Articles

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and Sleep Quality Factors: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Due to the unclear etiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), a painful and distressing condition with a high prevalence, the researchers have hypothesized a connection between sleep quality and RAS. The cross-sectional study enrolled 10,138 Fasa Cohort Study participants aged 35-70 years. Various sleep quality factors were calculated and categorized based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire. Among 9030 subjects finally included with RAS prevalence of 20.2%, adjusted logistic regression showed significant odds ratios (ORs) in subjects who sleep < 5 h (OR = 1.44, 95%CI 1.25, 1.66), have sleep latencies of more than 60 min (OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.11, 1.69), have sleep efficiencies of 65%-75% (OR = 1.55, 95%CI 1.21, 1.98), or regularly go to bed after 11 p.m. (OR = 1.23, 95%CI 1.11, 1.37). Subgroup analyses indicated no significant associations between RAS and various sleep factors in individuals who worked night shifts, and stronger associations were observed in men than women. The study found a significant positive association between RAS and sleep quality factors such as shorter duration, lower efficiency, longer latency, later bedtime, and regular sleeping pill use. Establishing early and sufficient sleep and addressing sleep onset disturbances by adhering to sleep hygiene principles should be prioritized in individuals with RAS.

Hubungan Penggunaan Kontrasepsi Pil Oral Kombinasi (POK) dengan Kejadian Obesitas dan Keputihan di Wilayah Puskesmas Simpang IV Sipin Kota Jambi Tahun 2022

The aim of the research is to determine the relationship between the use of combined oral contraceptive pills (POK) and the incidence of obesity and vaginal discharge in Simpang IV Sipin Community Health Center Area, Jambi City in 2022. This research is a quantitative study using a cross sectional design. This research was conducted in the Simpang IV Sipin Community Health Center working area, Jambi City from 14 to 20 December 2022. The total population was 130 respondents with samples using total sampling techniques. The data analysis technique used was univariate and bivariate analysis. The results of the study is that there is a relationship between contraceptive users and the incidence of obesity and there is no relationship between contraceptive users and the incidence of vaginal discharge in the Simpang IV Sipin Health Center Area, Jambi City in 2022

Combined oral contraceptive use and obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous endocrine condition and combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have been demonstrated to be the first-line treatment to women who do not intend to become pregnant. The combination of COCs and PCOS may or may not amplify the risks of cardiovascular events. To investigate whether surrogates for obesity may be influenced by the use of COCs containing different formulations in women with PCOS. From January 2024 a literature search was conducted in Google Scholar and Pubmed databases using PCOS, COC, and obesity terms. Hand search of randomized clinical trials in the references of obtained manuscripts was also performed. After the exclusion of reviews and articles that did not fulfill eligibility criteria, compared the results obtained before and after the use of COCs in 13 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Random-effects model was used to estimate the standardized mean differences (SMD) and standard errors (SE). Risk of bias was examined using the Rob2 tool. Thirteen heterogeneous RCTs reported no difference in waist circumference with the use of different COC formulations (p = 0.714). On the contrary, body fat mass increased with the use of pill (p = 0.013). Waist triglyceride index and lipid accumulation product tended to be higher after the use of COCs (p = 0.073 and p = 0.064, respectively). Combined oral contraceptives with different formulations might increase fat mass accumulation in women with PCOS. Lipids may also be increased in PCOS users. Because some concerns about the quality and heterogeneity identified in various RCTs, caution should be taken before a definitive conclusion regarding the use of COCs and obesity.

Association between female infertility and stroke mortality: evidence from the PLCO cancer screening trial.

While infertility affects about 15% of women during their reproductive years, its long-term impact on stroke mortality after this period remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between infertility and stroke mortality in women using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial. We analyzed data from 75,778 female participants aged 55-74 years with a median follow-up of 16.84 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for stroke mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. Among participants, 14.53% reported infertility. During follow-up, 1,159 women died from stroke. Compared to women without infertility, those with infertility had a higher risk of stroke mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41, p = 0.016). This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, race, education level, marital status, smoking status, body mass index, history of hypertension, history of heart attack, history of diabetes mellitus, birth control pill use, hormone replacement therapy, endometriosis, first menstrual period and pregnancy history (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.42, p = 0.029). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses yielded consistent results. The findings of this study indicate that infertility is associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality in women. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Comprehensive Analysis of Risk Factors and Prognostic Outcomes in Cases of Cerebral Venous and Sinus Thrombosis in a Tertiary Care Setting.

Background Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVT) is one of the most common causes of stroke in young people. Withtimely diagnosis and the right medical attention, this relatively rare neurologic condition may be curable. Finding the risk variables and outcome determinants is the aim of this study. Methodology A two-year prospective observational research was carried out in a tertiary care facility. Notable were the patient's demographics, symptomatology, and risk factor history. The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was employed to assess the patient's outcome and prognosis both at admission and after six weeks. The mRS scores at admission and follow-up were compared concerning outcome factors using the chi-square test. Results In all, there were 75 people with CVT. More men (42 patients, 56%) than women (33 patients, 44%), particularly in their third decade, were impacted. Polycythemia (22 patients, 29.3%) was the most prevalent risk factor, followed by the use of oral contraceptives (14 patients, 18.7%). Based on their mRS scores upon entry, 38 individuals (50.7%) were classified as functionally independent (mRS < 2), whereas 37 individuals (49.3%) were deemed functionally dependent (mRS > 2). At the six-week follow-up, 54 patients (72%) were functionally independent. Decompressive craniotomies were performed on 15 patients (20%), of which 10 (13.33%) had improvement, two (2.67%) had deterioration, and one patient passed away. The percentage of deaths was 1.33%. Two patients (2.67%) were not followed up with. Conclusion The present findings highlight that CVT predominantly affects younger individuals with a slight male predominance. The leading risk factors were polycythemia and the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Despite generally favorable prognoses with appropriate management, poorer outcomes were linked to altered consciousness, neurological deficits, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at presentation.

Emotion and birth control: Emotion regulation ERPs differ based on menstrual cycle phase and hormonal contraceptive use

While hormonal contraceptives (HCs) like oral contraceptive pills (OCs) and intrauterine devices (IUDs) can reportedly influence mood, the evidence is mixed, and the mechanisms remain unclear. Emotion reactivity and regulation processes may be hormone-sensitive and underlie these mood changes. This study sought to investigate the role of the menstrual cycle and HC use in emotion regulation using ERP measures during an emotion regulation paradigm. Participants with a natural cycle (NC) were measured in the mid-follicular and mid-luteal phase (within-subject design, n = 26), and compared with OC (n = 36) and IUD (n = 25) users. The centroparietal late positive potential (LPP) reflected negative emotion reactivity and its modulation by cognitive reappraisal served as a marker for emotion regulation processing. NC participants had a lower LPP amplitude in the mid-luteal compared to the mid-follicular phase. Reactivity to negative emotional stimuli decreased over time in the mid-luteal phase, whereas the HC groups showed sustained LPP activation. Reappraisal led only to significant LPP changes in the mid-follicular phase, and not in the mid-luteal phase or HC groups. Our results showed a specific left frontal activity (FR-LPP) in the contrast that reflected emotion regulation processing. This activity was highest in the mid-follicular phase, and was significantly different from the OC users but not from the IUD group. Higher self-reported PMS symptoms were associated with stronger effects on the reduced mid-luteal LPP activity and with lower FR-LPP amplitude in the mid-follicular phase. No effect of OC phase (active pill use versus pill pause) was found. These findings add insights into the neurophysiological underpinnings of hormone-related mood changes and demonstrate the importance of considering hormonal status and PMS symptoms in emotion research.

Exploring the impact of women-specific reproductive factors on phenotypic aging and the role of life’s essential 8

BackgroundAging is an inevitable biological process. Accelerated aging renders adults more susceptible to chronic diseases and increases their mortality rates. Previous studies have reported the relationship between lifestyle factors and phenotypic aging. However, the relationship between intrinsic factors, such as reproductive factors, and phenotypic aging remains unclear.MethodsThis study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), spanning from 1999 to 2010 and 2015–2018, with 14,736 adult women. Random forest imputation was used to handle missing covariate values in the final cohort. Weighted linear regression was utilized to analyze the relationship between women-specific reproductive factors and PhenoAgeAccel. Considering the potential impact of menopausal status on the results, additional analyses were conducted on premenopausal and postmenopausal participants. Additionally, the Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) was used to investigate the impact of healthy lifestyle and other factors on the relationship between women-specific reproductive factors and PhenoAgeAccel. Stratified analyses were conducted based on significant interaction p-values.ResultsIn the fully adjusted models, delayed menarche and gynecological surgery were associated with increased PhenoAgeAccel, whereas pregnancy history were associated with a decrease. Additionally, early or late ages of menopause, first live birth, and last live birth can all negatively impact PhenoAgeAccel. The relationship between women-specific reproductive factors and PhenoAgeAccel differs between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. High LE8 scores positively impacted the relationship between certain reproductive factors (age at menarche, age at menopause, age at first live birth, and age at last live birth) and phenotypic age acceleration. Stratified analysis showed significant interactions for the following variables: BMI with age at menarche, pregnancy history, and age at menopause; ethnicity with age at menopause, age at first live birth, and parity; smoking status with use of contraceptive pills and gynecologic surgery; hypertension with use of contraceptive pills, pregnancy history, and age at menopause.ConclusionDelayed menarche, gynecological surgery, and early or late ages of menopause, first live birth, and last live birth are associated with accelerated phenotypic aging. High LE8 score may alleviate the adverse effects of reproductive factors on phenotypic aging.

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Relation to the Participant-Reported Total Pregnancy and Live Birth Numbers among Reproductive-Aged Women in the United States.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), widely utilized in various industries, may pose potential reproductive well-being risks. However, the research on the impact of PFAS exposures on pregnancy and live birth rates remains scarce. To address this gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2013 and 2018. We focused on six PFAS compounds measured in the serum of women aged 20 to 50 years, employing the Poisson regression, Quantile G-composition (Qgcomp), and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression models. Adjusting for age, racial/ethnic origin, educational level, marital status, family income, body mass index (BMI), menarche age, birth control pill use, and other female hormone consumption, the Poisson regression identified significant negative associations between the individual PFAS exposures and pregnancy and live birth numbers (p < 0.05 for all 24 null hypotheses for which the slope of the trend line is zero). The Qgcomp analysis indicated that a one-quartile increase in the mixed PFAS exposures was associated with reductions of 0.09 (95% CI: -0.15, -0.03) in the pregnancy numbers and 0.12 (95% CI: -0.19, -0.05) in the live birth numbers. Similarly, the WQS analysis revealed that a unit increase in the WQS index corresponded to decreases of 0.14 (95% CI: -0.20, -0.07) in the pregnancy numbers and 0.14 (95% CI: -0.21, -0.06) in the live birth numbers. Among the six specific PFAS compounds we studied, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) had the most negative association with the pregnancy and live birth numbers. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PFAS exposures are associated with lower pregnancy and live birth numbers among women of reproductive age.

Characteristics and Manifestations of Patients with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis and Factors Associated with Unfavorable Functional Outcomes

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare cerebrovascular disease that typically affects young females. Objectives: To describe the clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging characteristics of CVST and evaluate the differences in characteristics of patients with unfavorable versus favorable outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study (2007 - 2018) reviewed all consecutive patients with CVST, assessing their demographic, clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging characteristics, and clinical outcomes. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess the functional outcomes of patients after a three-month follow-up. Factors affecting patients’ outcomes (favorable [mRS ≤ 2] vs. unfavorable [mRS &gt; 2]) were examined using the Independent t-test and chi-squared test. Results: A total of 141 patients (mean age: 38.15 ± 13.71; female-to-male ratio of 2.28) with CVST were included. Most of the admissions (42.6%) were in the summer. Most patients had a subacute disease onset (66.0%), with headaches being the most frequent manifestation (66.0%). Regular oral contraceptive pill use and fasting were the most frequent clinical risk factors (52.0% and 22.7%, respectively). Different types of inherited thrombophilia (deficiency in protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III) were recorded in nearly 13 to 16% of patients. The lateral transverse sinus (61.7%) and the superior sagittal sinus (45.4%) were the most frequently involved. The mortality rates at discharge and after three months were 4.3% and 8.0%, respectively. In the follow-up assessment, 81.3% of patients showed a favorable outcome [mRS ≤ 2], while 18.7% had an unfavorable outcome. Patients with unfavorable outcomes were significantly older compared to those with favorable outcomes (52 ± 5.81 vs. 35.95 ± 1.42, P = 0.017). Significant associations were observed between admission season (P = 0.020), chief complaint (P = 0.028), course of the disease (P = 0.021), previous thromboembolic events (P = 0.001), and antiphospholipid IgG (P = 0.032). Conclusions: The most prevalent risk factors among patients with CVST were being female, a history of using oral contraceptives, and fasting. Older patients with reduced consciousness, an acute disease course, a history of thromboembolic events, and positive antiphospholipid IgG are more likely to have an unfavorable outcome.

Polypharmacy and medication usage patterns in hypertensive patients: Findings from the Pars Cohort Study

Polypharmacy, defined here as the concomitant use of five or more medications, is a significant health issue, particularly affecting individuals with chronic diseases like hypertension (HTN). To compare individuals with and without HTN in term of polypharmacy, and to investigate correlates of polypharmacy and medication use patterns in individuals with HTN in southwest Iran. This cross-sectional study used the baseline data of 9270 participants of the Pars Cohort Study (PCS) with a mean age of 52.6 ± 9.7 years. Poisson multivariable modeling was applied to identify correlates of polypharmacy, and Lexicomp® was used to assess drug-drug interactions. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification was used to describe the pattern of medication use. The prevalence of polypharmacy in individuals without hypertension was 4.7 % (4.2%–5.2 %) vs. 23.7 % (22.1%–25.3 %) in individuals with hypertension (P < 0.001). Individuals with hypertension from middle-high socioeconomic status (SES) had a 1.51-fold higher prevalence of polypharmacy than vs. low SES. Those with more than three comorbidities had a 5.18 times higher prevalence of polypharmacy than those with isolated hypertension. Calcium channel blockers were the most common antihypertensives (20.9 %). In terms of drug-drug interactions, type C interactions were most prevalent among participants with hypertension and polypharmacy (76.0 %). Our findings imply a fairly high prevalence of polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions among individuals with hypertension; to tackle this issue, we recommend a national pharmacovigilance system, training programs for primary care physicians, public education and awareness campaigns, drug-checking campaigns, targeted screenings to alter modifiable risk factors, and the use of safe combination pills.

Investigating the influence of oral contraceptive pill use on multiple sclerosis risk using UK Biobank data

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between oral contraceptive (OC) pill use and the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS), attempting to address the limitations present in previous studies which produced conflicting results. DesignPopulation-based cohort study using data from the UK Biobank. SubjectsThe study included 181,058 women of white ethnicity born in England between 1937 and 1970, among which 1131 had an MS diagnosis. ExposureOC use, considering the self-reported age of initiation and discontinuation. The exposures of interest include: i) ever use, ii) current use, iii) duration of current use in years, and iv) age and year at initiation. Main Outcome MeasuresMS diagnosis (ICD-10: G35) was used as outcome of interest, and the associations with the exposures of interest were investigated using marginal structural models with a time-to-event approach. To adjust for confounding, we included in the models several variables including MS polygenic risk score (MS-PRS), education level, parity, smoking, fertility problems, obesity, and mononucleosis. We further aimed to evaluate the influence of parity using a mediation analysis. ResultsThe association of both ever and current OC use did not result in a statistically significant MS hazard increase (ever vs never users, HR=1.30 [95%CI:0.93,1.82, p=0.12]; current vs never users, HR=1.35 [95%CI:0.81,2.25, p=0.25]). However, we highlighted parity as an effect modifier for this association. In nulliparous women, ever and current use resulted in a significant two-fold and three-fold MS hazard increase (HR=2.08 [95%CI:1.04,4.17, p=0.04] and HR=3.15 [95%CI:1.43,6.92, p=0.004]). These associations were supported by significant MS hazard increases for a higher duration of current use and for an earlier age at initiation. We further highlighted genetic MS susceptibility as another effect modifier, as a stronger OC-MS hazard association was found in women with a low MS-PRS. ConclusionOur findings highlighted how the association between OC use and MS vary based on individual characteristics such as parity and genetic MS susceptibility. Importantly, current use in nulliparous women was found to be associated with a three-fold increase in MS hazard. We acknowledge the need for cautious causal interpretation and further research to validate these findings across diverse populations and OC types.

Initiation of Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pediatric Emergency Departments.

Pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in the United States are facing a rise in the number of children and adolescents who present with opioid use disorder (OUD), often driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Medication treatment of pediatric OUD in the ED setting is often limited to symptomatic treatment of opioid withdrawal. Pediatric patients are rarely offered medications for OUD, especially in the ED setting. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of OUD in patients aged 16 years and older. Adult studies have demonstrated that ED initiation of medication for OUD such as buprenorphine is feasible, safely treats withdrawal symptoms, and can improve patient compliance with outpatient follow-up. However, initiation of buprenorphine in the ED has not been well-studied in the pediatric population. We present 2 cases of adolescent patients, a 16-year-old male and 17-year-old female, who presented to the ED with opioid withdrawal. They were both diagnosed with severe OUD because of their use of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Both patients were successfully started on buprenorphine/naloxone in the pediatric ED before transitioning to an outpatient addiction clinic for continued treatment. The case series demonstrates the feasibility of ED-based buprenorphine initiation for adolescents, an important and timely intervention for adolescents with OUD.

No association between oral contraceptive exposure and subsequent MS: A population-based nested case–control study in primary care

Background: Conflicting data exist around oral contraceptive exposure and subsequent multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To use routinely collected primary healthcare data to explore the potential association between oral contraceptive exposure and subsequent MS in females at population level. Methods: We performed a nested case–control study using electronic primary care data, with complete electronic ascertainment from 1990. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between contraceptive exposure and MS, without and with adjusting for age, ethnicity and deprivation. Results: A total of 4455 females were included: 891 cases and 3564 controls. No association was seen between oral contraceptive exposure and subsequent MS, or between any contraceptive, combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) or progesterone-only pill (POP) use 0–2, 2–5 or >5 years prior to MS. Conclusions: In the largest population-based study to date, we find no evidence of an association between oral contraceptive exposure and subsequent MS diagnosis.

The Relationship Between Discrimination, Heterosexist Harassment, Rejection, and Substance Use in Iranian Gay Men

Background : Gay men experience heterosexist harassment, rejection, and discrimination because of their sexual orientation, which leads to mental health problems, such as substance use. Due to anti-gay laws and regulations in Iran, which are based on fundamental interpretations of Islam, gay men are likely to experience more discrimination than in Western countries. Methods: We used the HHRDS to assess heterosexist harassment, rejection, and discrimination and the ASSIST 3.0 to measure substance use in N = 156 Iranian gay men. Results: Lifetime use was as follows: 64.1% for tobacco products, 36.5% for alcoholic beverages, 25.6% for cannabis, 8.3% for opioids, and 7.1% for sedatives or sleeping pills. All three HHRDS subscales were significantly associated with all substance use scales. In addition, when descriptively comparing HHRDS scores with those of US samples, Iranian gay men reported more discrimination. In a MANOVA, total discrimination strongly predicted tobacco and cannabis consumption, while total discrimination predicted alcohol, opioid, and sedative/sleeping pill use to a moderate degree. Conclusions: Substance use in Iranian gay men can be seen as a primary mental-health issue resulting from discrimination. It also likely reflects a maladaptive coping strategy related to these experiences. To improve Iran gay men’s mental health, structural and interpersonal discrimination should be eliminated and specialized psychological services should be established.

The association between elevated blood estradiol level and corneal ectasia in women.

This study aims to investigate the association between blood estradiol level and two different etiologies of corneal ectasia in premenopausal women. This is an observational case-control study with three groups of women. Group 1 included women with keratoconus. Group 2 included women with post refractive surgery ectasia (PRSE). Group 3 was the control group. Venous blood for the measurement of estradiol was collected in order to assess the relationship between estradiol levels and ectasia. Participant's age, regular cycle (yes/no) and oral contraceptive pills (OCP) use (yes/no) was also documented. We compared the differences in estradiol levels between the 3 groups. Logistic regression was used to detect variables' effect on participants' chance to ectasia. Ninety-six women were enrolled: 36 (37%), 29 (30%), and 31 (32%) in the keratoconus, PRSE, and control group, respectively. The mean age of the participants was 29.8 ± 3.2, 31.9 ± 2.6, and 30.7 ± 3.5 years, respectively (p = 0.04, between groups 1 and 2). Estradiol levels [pg/mL] were 38.0 ± 2.4, 43.4 ± 2.4, and 28.6 ± 3.9, respectively (p < 0.001, between any pair of groups). Two multivariate logistic regression models adjusted to age, regular cycle, and OCP use, indicated that higher blood estradiol levels were associated with an increased risk of ectasia (OR = 2.71 and 2.44, respectively; p < 0.001). Corneal ectasia may be associated with elevated blood estradiol levels. Estradiol measurements could be useful in women with keratoconus or in women who undergo refractive surgery.

Effectiveness of tenapanor for treating hyperphosphatemia in patients receiving dialysis: a plain language summary of the OPTIMIZE study

Plain Language Summary What is this summary about? This summary provides a review of the OPTIMIZE study, the results of which were published in Kidney360 in February 2024. The OPTIMIZE study looked at how well tenapanor tablets work to treat patients receiving dialysis who have high levels of phosphate in their blood, a condition called hyperphosphatemia. In the OPTIMIZE study, researchers wanted to understand if tenapanor would decrease phosphate levels in the blood to the target range. They also tested different ways of starting tenapanor treatment in patients. In the human body, kidneys are organs that filter blood and remove waste products. In chronic kidney disease, sometimes referred to as CKD, a patient’s kidneys do not work as well at filtering their blood and removing waste products. This can allow phosphate to build up in the blood. Phosphate levels may remain high despite patients receiving treatment such as dialysis, using pills that keep phosphate in the intestines (called phosphate binders) to prevent phosphate from being absorbed into the blood, and eating a low-phosphate diet. Phosphate levels may remain high despite these treatments because they can be difficult to follow. Most people receiving dialysis take 7–8 phosphate binder pills every day, and over half of those people have reported skipping at least one dose in the past month. Additionally, low-phosphate diets can be difficult to follow and people often struggle to meet their other nutritional needs. What are the key takeaways? Tenapanor used in combination with phosphate binders led to lower phosphate levels in the blood with the use of fewer phosphate-lowering pills. Tenapanor also lowered phosphate levels in patients who were not previously on phosphate binders but needed phosphate-lowering treatment. What were the main conclusions reported by the researchers? Tenapanor can help patients receiving dialysis better control their hyperphosphatemia. This is an abstract of the Plain Language Summary of Publication article. View the full Plain Language Summary PDF of this article to read the full-text Link to original article here

Level of Awareness of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Among Final -Year Medical Students. A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Awareness of breast cancer among adults can help to reduce the hazards and uncertainty associated with its delayed diagnosis. This study was planned to determine the awareness of risk factors of breast cancer among male and female students of Final year MBBS of HITEC-IMS, Taxila cantt. Methodology: All the final -year MBBS students (n=102) at HITEC IMS, Taxila Cantt were inducted in the study through non-probability convenience sampling. A total of 99 students completed the self-administered survey via online Google Forms. Data was analyzed using the chi-square test in SPSS version 28. Results: Out of a total of 99 students, the female response was more (56.56%) as compared to males (43.43%) with an average age of 22.9±1.607 years. Awareness regarding the role of the use of oral contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, exposure to radiation and family history in increasing the chances of developing breast cancer was generally high for both genders, with no significant differences. A notable gender difference was found in the awareness of early menstruation (P-value = 0.010). Students’ awareness regarding the risk factors like high consumption of red meals, low consumption of vegetables and fruits, low physical activity, and starting menstruating before age 12 was relatively low in both genders. Conclusion: This research emphasizes the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance breast cancer risk factor knowledge among medical students.

Treating Benzodiazepine Withdrawal in a Bridge Clinic.

Benzodiazepine-involved overdose deaths are rising, driven by increasing use of nonprescribed benzodiazepine pills. For patients who wish to stop nonprescribed benzodiazepine use, rapid inpatient tapers are typically the only option to treat benzodiazepine withdrawal. Substance use disorder bridge clinics can provide the high-touch care needed to manage outpatient benzodiazepine tapers in patients at high risk due to other substance use disorders. Describe the implementation and short-term outcomes of an outpatient benzodiazepine taper protocol to treat benzodiazepine withdrawal in a substance use disorder bridge clinic. The clinical team developed a 4- to 6-week intensive outpatient taper protocol using diazepam. Patients with benzodiazepine use disorder were eligible if they had benzodiazepine withdrawal, lacked a prescriber, wanted to stop benzodiazepines completely, and agreed to daily visits. For patients who initiated a taper between April 2021 and December 2022, we evaluated the proportion of patients who completed a taper (i.e., tapered to a last prescribed dose of diazepam 10 mg/d or less); likelihood of remaining on the taper over time; and seizure, overdose, or death documented at the study institution during or within 1 month of taper completion or discontinuation. Other secondary outcomes included HIV testing and prevention, hepatitis C testing, and referrals to recovery coaching or psychiatry. Fifty-four patients initiated a total of 60 benzodiazepine tapers. The population was mostly male (61%) and non-Hispanic White (85%). Nearly all patients had opioid use disorder (96%), and most (80%) were taking methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder before starting the taper. Patients reported using multiple substances in addition to benzodiazepines, most commonly fentanyl (75%), followed by cocaine (41%) and methamphetamine (21%). Fourteen patients (23%) completed a taper with a median duration of 34 days (IQR 27.8-43.5). Most tapers were stopped when the patient was lost to follow-up (57%), or the team recommended inpatient care (18%). Two patients had a seizure, and 4 had a presumed opioid-involved overdose during or within 1 month after the last taper visit, all individuals who did not complete a taper. No deaths occurred during or within 1 month of taper completion or discontinuation. Challenges included frequent loss to follow-up in the setting of other unstable substance use. Patients received other high-priority care during the taper including HIV testing (32%), PrEP initiation (6.7%), hepatitis C testing (30%), and referrals to recovery coaches (18%) and psychiatry (6.7%). Managing benzodiazepine withdrawal with a 4- to 6-week intensive outpatient taper in patients with benzodiazepine and opioid use disorders is challenging. More work is needed to refine patient selection, balance safety risks with feasibility, and study long-term, patient-centered outcomes.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: changing trends in the incidence, age and gender (findings from the CMC Vellore CVT registry)

BackgroundMultiple cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) registries from various geographical regions indicate that female gender, the use of contraceptive pills, pregnancy and puerperium are important risk factors. In this study,...

Unusual Case of Vaginal Bleeding in A Teenager Caused by Endometrial Cast: Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction Endometrial cast, a rare occurrence in gynaecology, is the expulsion of the near entirety of the endometrial lining of the uterine cavity, often maintaining the shape of the uterus. Also known as membranous dysmenorrhoea and largely associated with use of a progesterone-containing contraceptive; some cases following oral contraceptive pills (OCP) use in adolescence for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), have been reported. Case Report A 16-year-old nulliparous girl presented with a sudden passage of tissue per vagina (PV) following a short duration of PV bleeding and short-lasting crampy abdominal pain, after a 3-month regular use of Rigevidon® (a combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) containing ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel): a contraceptive choice. Noted was a previously normal menstrual cycle following menarche at age 12 with an unremarkable past medical history, a negative urine pregnancy test and an empty uterus on ultrasound scan. Histological examination of the 14cm-long flat fleshy mass with an intrauterine outline confirmed an endometrial or decidual cast. Discussion Cast formation, with different underlying mechanisms – inadequate estrogen opposition effect on endometrium from dysfunctional oestrogen-progesterone imbalance +/- dysfunctional progesterone-mediated cellular Tissue inhibitors to- and matrix metallopeptidases (TIMP/MMP) – has been associated with HMB, ectopic gestations, miscarriages and secondary postpartum haemorrhage. Our case had no preceding significant risk factors and inadequate sonographic-evidence- a common occurrence in literature. This led to diagnostic and management challenges, increasing anxiety and treatment morbidity. Management in young women should be expectant +/- hormonal treatment. Reassurance with individualised progestogens type and dose will aid contraceptive-compliance. Conclusion While endometrial/decidual cast is not associated with a deleterious health effect, it can be distressing to patients and a diagnostic challenge to clinicians, unfamiliar with it. More research into underpinning pathways and disease associations is needed.