Younger Group Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Information Quality in Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology: Clinicians, Residents, and Large Language Models.

Pediatric otorhinolaryngology (ORL) addresses complex conditions in children, requiring a tailored approach for patients and families. With artificial intelligence (AI) gaining traction in medical applications, this study evaluates the quality of information provided by large language models (LLMs) in comparison to clinicians, identifying strengths and limitations in the field of pediatric ORL. Comparative blinded study. Controlled research environment using LLMs. Fifty-four items of increasing difficulty, namely 18 theoretical questions, 18 clinical scenarios, and 18 patient questions, were posed to ChatGPT-3.5, -4.0, -4o, Claude-3, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, a second-year resident, and an expert in the field of pediatric ORL. The Quality Analysis of Medical Artificial Intelligence (QAMAI) tool was used for blinded evaluation of the quality of medical information by a panel of expert members from the Young Otolaryngologists Group of the Italian Society of ORL and the International Federation of ORL Societies. LLMs performed comparably to specialist in theoretical and standardized clinical scenarios, with Bing Copilot achieving the highest QAMAI scores. However, AI responses lacked transparency in citing reliable sources and were less effective in addressing patient-centered questions. Poor interrater agreement among reviewers highlighted challenges in distinguishing human-generated from AI-generated responses. Rhinology topics received the highest scores, whereas laryngology and patient-centered questions showed lower agreement and performance. LLMs show promise as supportive resources in pediatric ORL, particularly in theoretical learning and standardized cases. However, significant limitations remain, including source transparency and contextual communication in patient interactions. Human oversight is essential to mitigate risks. Future developments should focus on refining AI capabilities for evidence-based and empathetic communication to support both clinicians and families.

Significant Reduction in Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Hepatitis A across Thailand, 2024.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an RNA virus that causes acute hepatitis and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. It has historically been highly endemic in Thailand, where most children develop lifelong immunity after infection. Economic development and improved sanitation have reduced HAV transmission, but immunity levels have declined, raising concerns about potential future outbreaks. This study aims to assess the seroprevalence of HAV antibodies in Thailand in 2024, 10 years after the last national survey in 2014, and to evaluate current immunity levels to inform public health strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population aged 6 months to 80 years across Thailand's geographic regions. A total of 4,312 serum samples were tested for anti-HAV antibodies using the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. The seroprevalence data were compared with findings from previous surveys in 2004 and 2014. The study showed a significant decline in population immunity to HAV, with the age at which 50% of individuals had antibodies increasing from 36 in 2004 to 42 in 2014, and to 47 years in 2024. A majority of the population remained susceptible to HAV, particularly among younger age groups. Thailand has transitioned to low HAV endemicity, with a large proportion of the population lacking immunity. Despite the absence of significant outbreaks in recent decades, the risk of future outbreaks remains, particularly from imported cases. Enhanced surveillance and vaccination strategies are necessary to prevent future HAV transmission and manage public health risks.

Sleep and Aging. A Polysomnographic Follow-Up Study, Some 40 Years Later.

The aim of the present study was to explore age-related sleep alterations in normal subjects whose sleep had been recorded for the first time 40.4 ± 4.8 years ago. For the follow-up polysomnography (3 nights) 15 participants (5 female, 10 male, age 56-74 years) were recruited. Recording conditions and sleep scoring were adapted to the previous study. In all older participants, the amount of slow-wave sleep and REM sleep was decreased, while stage 1 and wakefulness were increased. There was no significant change in stage 2 or in any of the additional REM sleep parameters (REM density, latency, number and duration of REM cycles). Sleep stage transition analysis showed a markedly reduced stability of SWS from young to older age. While none of the single sleep parameters showed intra-individual stability with age, a pattern analysis, which combined seven sleep parameters (sleep stages, total sleep time and REM density), showed that the concordance rate of the combined sleep parameters correlated significantly with the age at follow-up. The results of this longitudinal study over a period of about 40 years are largely consistent with those of cross-sectional studies. While the lack of significant correlation of the individual sleep parameters between the younger and older age groups did not allow for the identification of any of them as trait markers, the result of the pattern analysis, which combined a set of sleep parameters, indicates that the stability of the sleep structure decreases significantly in the age range between the late 50s and early 70s.

Mitochondrial FIS1 level in cumulus cells correlates with morphological grades of human cleavage-stage embryos.

Advanced-age women have a lower good-quality embryo rate (GQER) compared to young women. However, GQER varies widely within the same age group, suggesting that factors beyond age influence embryo quality. Mitochondria regulate cellular metabolism through dynamic fission and fusion alterations. Specifically, cumulus cell (CC) mitochondria regulate not only the metabolism of CCs but also of adjacent oocytes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between CC mitochondrial dynamics and oocyte developmental potential post-fertilization. CCs were collected from 183 women aged 25-45 undergoing single sperm intracytoplasmic injection-embryo transfer treatments. Samples were stratified by age into young (< 35) and advanced age (≥ 35) groups. Each group was further subdivided into high and low subgroups based on day 3 GQER. Mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, fission-fusion gene expression, and mitochondrial functions were compared among groups and subgroups. Consistent with the literature, data analysis from our laboratory revealed significant variances in GQER among individuals of the same age group. Morphological analysis suggested a negative correlation between GQER and mitochondrial length in CCs (P < 0.0001, r = - 0.38). Live-cell imaging showed that both fission and fusion frequencies of CC mitochondria in the advanced-age group were lower than those in the young group (P = 0.009, P = 0.01). Additionally, within the advanced-age group, CC mitochondria from the low GQER subgroup exhibited lower fission frequency and fission-fusion ratios compared to the high GQER subgroup (P = 0.04, P = 0.01). Consequently, GQER positively correlated with mitochondrial fission-fusion ratio in CCs (P = 0.01, r = 0.44). Notably, there were no significant differences in the expression of mitochondrial fusion-related proteins (OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2) between the advanced-age and young groups or among the subgroups. However, levels of fission proteins, including FIS1 and MFF, were significantly lower in the advanced-age group compared to the young group and in the low GQER subgroup compared to their high GQER counterparts. qPCR results further indicated that fis1 and mff mRNA levels in CCs were positively correlated with GQER (P < 0.0001, r = 0.55; P = 0.0025, r = 0.41). The CCs from the low GQER subgroup exhibit a higher level of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial morphology, fission-fusion balance, and fission-fusion gene expression in CCs influence early embryonic development, independent of age. Of these factors, the FIS1 level shows the most robust correlation with GQER.

Measuring the effects of age on foveal surround suppression of contrast.

The apparent contrast of a visible central grating can be reduced by the presence of a surrounding grating-an effect known as surround suppression of contrast. Surround suppression is strong when the orientation of the surround matches that of the central probe and is strongest in the periphery. There is evidence that surround suppression at the fovea increases in strength with age, and that the orientation dependence of surround suppression is weakened. However, the range of visual stimuli that can produce this effect (and the implicated underlying mechanisms) requires further examination. This study aimed to characterise surround suppression at the fovea and its dependence on age. Visual stimuli with previously unexplored spatiotemporal parameters were used, designed to minimise contributions from spatially short-range overlay masking and temporally transient masking mechanisms. In 20 younger (<30 years) and 17 older (>60 years) observers, psychophysical contrast-matching thresholds were measured using stimuli centred on the fovea. Grating stimuli were presented with either no surround, a collinearly oriented surround or an orthogonally oriented surround. Using a staircase procedure, observers matched the contrast of these central target stimuli to the contrast of a separate reference stimulus. The points of subjective equality between target and reference stimuli were compared between the two surround orientations and between younger and older age groups. Across all observers, weak foveal surround suppression was found that had little orientation tuning. No evidence for the strength of surround suppression increasing with age is reported. These findings suggest that the age-related effects of surround suppression may be dependent on the spatiotemporal parameters of the stimulus used and encourage further exploration of the contrast masking mechanisms affected by age. The mild and weakly orientation-tuned suppression may have been produced by a weak and temporally sustained suppression mechanism.

Total knee arthroplasty after prior high tibial osteotomy results in comparable survival and clinical outcomes but significantly higher complication rates compared to primary total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 550,000 patients.

High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) is an effective surgical option in managing medial compartment knee osteoarthritis in the relatively younger population group but most will eventually require conversion to Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). TKA post-HTO is considered more complex than a primary TKA, given the numerous factors that increase the difficulty of the surgery-skin and soft tissue scarring, patella baja, limited knee motion, anatomical deformity or bony distortion of the proximal tibial metaphysis after HTO. A random-effects meta-analysis of comparative studies between TKA post-HTO and primary TKA was performed. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and SCOPUS from inception to August 1, 2024. Survivorship outcomes in terms of revision rates were analyzed. Where possible, further subgrouping to assess the impact of different techniques was performed. Secondarily, associated complications, surgical duration and clinical outcomes (Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Scores and Knee Society Scores (KSS) (Knee & Function)) were pooled. At short-term follow-up, pooled revision rate for TKA post-HTO was 2.9% (95%CI 1.7-5.1) while that for primary TKA was 1.9% (95%CI 1.2-2.9). At mid-term follow-up, the pooled revision rate was 4.8% (95%CI 2.8-8.2) compared to 3.0% (95%CI 1.9-4.8) in primary TKA. At long-term follow-up, the pooled revision rate for TKA post-HTO was 7.2% (95%CI 1.3-30.9), while that of primary TKA was 4.1% (95%CI 1.6-10.2). No significant differences were noted between both groups at each follow-up. Pooled complication rate for TKA post-HTO was 15.8% (95%CI 12.3-20.0%), while that for primary TKA group was 6.1% (95%CI3.5-10.4). TKA post-HTO had significantly greater complication rates than in primary TKA (WMD: 2.6, 95%CI 2.2-3.1, p < 0.01). Pooled mean postoperative HSS scores were 83.5 (95% CI 80.1-86.8) in the TKA post-HTO group, compared to 86.1 (95% CI 82.3-90.0) in the primary TKA group. Pooled mean postoperative KSS (Knee) scores were 85.9 (95% CI 83.6-88.2) in the TKA post-HTO group, and 88.1 (95% CI 84.4-91.7) in the primary TKA group. Pooled mean postoperative KSS (Function) scores were 77.1 (95% CI 72.1-82.1) in the TKA post-HTO group and 78.4 (95% CI 74.5-82.5) in the primary TKA group. No significant differences were noted between both groups. TKA post-HTO has comparable survival but significantly higher complication rates than primary TKA.

Tooth loss and denture status: results of the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6).

The German Oral Health Study (DMS) is a series of consecutive studies designed to assess the oral health status of adults, seniors, and children in Germany. DMS is a major program of the Institute of German Dentists (Institut der Deutschen Zahnärzte) with the aim to produce health statistics for Germany. Tooth loss, edentulism, and prosthetic care have considerable socioeconomic significance; it is the aim of this paper to report findings on these aspects. The survey combines interviews and clinical examinations. Previous DMS studies focused primarily on tooth loss, edentulism, and prosthetic care. In the DMS • 6 survey, the condition of removable dentures and need for adjustments were additionally recorded, as well as necessary repair measures that were grouped according to their complexity (chairside or laboratory). The prevalence of edentulism decreased considerably compared to that in the Fifth German Oral Health Study (DMS V) in 2014. Among younger adults (35- to 44-year-olds), the prevalence of edentulism was negligible, with an average of 26.6 teeth present. The younger senior group (65- to 74-year-olds) had an average of 19.3 teeth; the prevalence of edentulism was 5%, which is a reduction of > 50% compared to 2014 (12.4%). Lower education status was an important prognostic factor for tooth loss. Owing to the low prevalence of edentulism in younger adults, removable dentures were not prevalent in this age group, whereas combined fixed-removable dentures were most frequently used in seniors. Regarding the type of denture, a shift towards fixed as well as implant-supported types was observed. Of the removable dentures, 50% to 60% were in a very good or good clinical condition. Problems were mainly identified with simple acrylic dentures. Nonetheless, participants' satisfaction with removable dentures was extremely high, and the dentures were used almost continuously. The most important finding in this study is the continued significant decline in the prevalence of complete edentulism among seniors that suggests a further reduction in edentulism in the future with an estimate of around 4% in 2030. The shift observed in primary prosthetic care from removable to fixed prostheses as well as the increasing prevalence of implants placed are positive developments. The data revealed further compression of morbidity compared to DMS V. Complete edentulism declined, and fixed partial dentures, including implant-supported prostheses, were increasingly used. Lower education status was an important predictor for tooth loss.

Impact of mild hypo- and hyperventilation on cerebral oxygen supply during general anesthesia

ObjectiveCerebral blood flow autoregulation is affected by several physiologic and medical factors. Especially arterial carbon dioxide pressures (PaCO2) impact cerebral blood flow. Only extensive changes in end-tidal CO2 have been studied so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mild hypo- and hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow as assessed by regional cerebral red blood cell oxygen saturation (rSO2) in two age groups.MethodsTwo groups of patients were compared under general anesthesia before the surgical procedure was started: A younger patient group (age < 40 years; YP) and older patients aged > 60 years (OP). Anesthetic management was standardized. In both groups, end-tidal CO2 was adjusted either to a low-normal value of 35–37 mmHg or a high-normal value of 43–45 mmHg for 15 min each. The sequence of these interventions was randomized. rSO2 was estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The primary outcome was defined as the difference in rSO2 between hypo- and hyperventilation between the two age groups.ResultsA total of 78 patients were included. In both groups, there was a statistically significant difference in rSO2 values after 15 min of hypo- versus hyperventilation. In the YP-group, rSO2 was 74 ± 4% after 15 min of hypoventilation and decreased to 68 ± 6% during hyperventilation (p < 0.001). In the OP-group, rSO2 was 71 ± 5% and 65 ± 6%, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no difference concerning changes in comparison of younger and elder patient groups (in both groups, Δ rSO2 = 6 ± 3%; p = 0.732).ConclusionEven mild hypoventilation increased rSO2 compared to mild hyperventilation and this difference occurred independent of age.

Myopia progression in young adults: insights from real-world clinical data

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Myopia may progress even during adulthood. Clinical trials are required to evaluate the effectiveness of myopia control interventions in adults. Purpose This study aimed to investigate what proportion of young adults undergo myopia progression of <-0.50 D and the factors associated with this progression based on data from real-world clinical settings. Methods This retrospective study included 2,683 myopes with spherical equivalent (SE) ranging from −0.50D to −14.75D. The spherical and cylindrical components were separately categorised into mild, moderate, and high-magnitude groups. Myopia progression was calculated as the difference between the previous spectacle prescription (obtained from a 1-year-old spectacle) and the current refraction. A binary logistic regression model was used to obtain the odds ratio. Results The mean ± standard deviation age of myopic individuals was 24.45 ± 2.74 years (range: 18–30) and annual myopia progression was −0.22 ± 0.38D. Out of 2,683 myopes, 2,341 (87.3%) had stable refraction (annual change: ≤0.25 to ≥-0.50 D), and 342 (12.7%) myopes had progression of <-0.50 D. Overall, 4.6% (n = 124/2,683) of myopes had a change in refraction of ≤-1.00 D. The younger age group (18–20 years, OR 1.63 [95% CI 1.03–2.57], p = 0.04), high-spherical equivalent (OR 2.37 [95% CI 1.28–4.38]), and high-cylinder (OR 6.60 [95% CI 3.40–12.81]) were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased odds of myopia progression. Age of apparent myopia onset, gender, and spherical components were not associated with myopia progression (p > 0.05). Conclusion About 1 out 20 myopes in clinical settings tend to have progression of one dioptre even during adulthood. Regular monitoring of biometry in young adults with high-spherical equivalent and astigmatism could aid in the identification of those with myopia progression.

Global temporal trends in maternal hypertensive disorders incidence and mortality from 1990 to 2021 based on the global burden of disease study

Maternal hypertensive disorders (MHD) remain a significant global health challenge. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global burden of MHD from 1990 to 2021, focusing on incidence and mortality trends across different sociodemographic index (SDI) regions and age groups. We utilized Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study methodologies to analyze MHD incidence and mortality. Temporal trends were examined using Joinpoint regression to calculate annual percentage changes and average annual percentage changes with 95% confidence interval (CI). Age-period-cohort models were applied to analyze trends across different age groups, time periods, and birth cohorts, with particular attention to SDI regions. Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of MHD decreased from 554.35 (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 461.38t o 675.43) per 100,000 in 1990 to 461.94 (95% UI: 392.73 to 551.65) in 2021, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of − 0.6% (95% CI: −0.67% to − 0.53%). The age-standardized death rate (ASDR) declined from 1.94 (95% UI: 1.71–2.15) per 100,000 in 1990 to 0.97 (95% UI: 0.81–1.18) in 2021 (AAPC − 2.18%; 95% CI: −2.3% to − 2.06%). Low SDI regions faced the highest burden. Age-period-cohort analyses revealed heterogeneous trends across age groups and SDI regions, with younger age groups (particularly ages 15–19 years) showing the most substantial improvements, demonstrated by the steepest declines in both incidence (-1.62% per year) and mortality rates (-2.57% per year). More recent birth cohorts demonstrated greater improvements, with declining risks of both incidence and mortality compared to earlier birth cohorts. Despite global reductions in MHD incidence and mortality over the past three decades, substantial disparities persist across regions and age groups. Targeted interventions, particularly in low SDI regions and among high-risk age groups, are crucial for further reducing the global burden of MHD.

Comparison of middle aged and older cancer survivors in the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER).

We evaluated the effectiveness of the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in representing middle-aged and older cancer survivors by comparing individual- and county-level characteristics with those of a comparable cohort in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). We identified incident cancer survivors aged ≥ 50years in the HRS and SEER biennially from 2000 to 2020. We calculated proportions of individual- level and county-level sociodemographic attributes for the sampling-weighted HRS and SEER. We calculated the standardized differences (SD) between the HRS and SEER, with an SD of ≥ 0.1 indicating a meaningful difference. Cancer survivors in the HRS and SEER had similar sociodemographic characteristics, with some exceptions. Across most years, the HRS had a lower proportion of cancer survivors in the younger baseline age group (e.g., in 2020, 1.3% in HRS vs. 7.4% in SEER for ages 50-54), but a higher proportion of non-Hispanic White (e.g., in 2020, 75.7% in HRS, 68.3% in SEER), and married (e.g., in 2020, 59.5% in HRS, 53.2% in SEER), all with SD ≥ 0.1. The general populations of their data collection areas were similar, while the HRS over-represented counties with a higher proportion of Hispanic residents. The sociodemographic profiles of middle-aged and older cancer survivors in the HRS and SEER were similar, with some minor exceptions, reflecting their distinct objectives and data collection methodologies. Understanding the comparability between HRS and SEER is crucial for ensuring that HRS data can reliably inform cancer survivorship research across the US population while providing additional longitudinal aging and covariates data.

Clinical analysis of nutritional components in children with acute leukemia

To assess the changes in body composition and nutritional risks faced by children with different stages of acute leukemia (AL). Bioelectrical impedance analysis combined with anthropometric measurements was used to detect body composition. This prospective study was conducted from August 2023 to July 2024 at Shandong Provincial Hospital, examining the body composition and physical balance of children with various stages of AL and healthy children. The non-fat components of children with AL and healthy children both showed a linear increase with age. In the younger age group, there were no significant differences in body composition between children with AL and healthy children. However, in the older age group, the body composition of children undergoing chemotherapy for AL was significantly lower than that of healthy children (P<0.05), and muscle mass recovered first after the completion of AL chemotherapy. The proportion of children with increased trunk fat in AL children who completed chemotherapy was significantly lower than that in healthy children (P<0.05), while the incidence rate of severe left-right imbalance in body composition was significantly higher (P<0.05). Muscle distribution in children with AL primarily showed insufficient limb and overall muscle mass, whereas healthy children mainly exhibited insufficient upper limb muscle mass. The body composition of children with AL varies at different treatment stages, indicating that nutritional status is affected by both the disease itself and the treatment. Early screening can provide a basis for reasonable nutritional intervention.

Pacing in ultra-marathon running: the Western States 100-mile endurance run 2006–2023

Pacing has been investigated in different running races, including ultra-marathons. We have, however, little knowledge about pacing in ultra-trail running. To date, no study has investigated pacing in one of the most iconic ultra-trail running races, the ‘Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run’ (WSER), which covers 160 km (100 miles) and includes significant elevation changes (6000 vertical meters uphill and 7500 vertical meters downhill). Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate pacing for successful finishers in WSER regarding gender, age, and performance level. Official results and split times for the WSER were obtained from the race website, including elevation data from 3837 runners, with 3068 men (80%) and 769 women (20%) competing between 2006 and 2023. The mean race speed was calculated for each participant, as well as the average mean checkpoint speed for each of the 18 race checkpoints (17 aid stations and finish point). The percentage of change in checkpoint speed (CCS) in relation to the average race speed was calculated. CCS was calculated for each of the 18 checkpoints to evaluate each runner’s pacing strategy. The average change in checkpoint speed (ACCS) of each participant was calculated as a mean of the 18 CCSs. Eight age groups were formed. Since there were very few runners younger than 25 and older than 65 years, these age groups were merged into < 30 and 60 > groups, respectively. Four performance groups were formed by four quartiles, each consisting of 25% of the total sample separately for men and women. Pacing shows great variability between checkpoints in both men and women, mainly influenced by elevation. Although the race profile is mostly downhill, it appears that the pacing trend is towards positive pacing. The differences between men and women were mainly at the beginning of the race (men start faster) and towards the end (men slow down more). Men have more pacing variability than women, with significant differences in the youngest age group, as well as the 40–44 and 50–54 age groups. In addition, younger men have more variability in pace compared to older men. There are no significant differences in age groups in women. Finally, the slowest and fastest ultra runners had less pacing variability than medium level runners. Pacing in WSER-runners shows great variability between checkpoints in both men and women. Pacing is positive and highly influenced by elevation. Men start faster than women, and men slow down more than women. Pacing differs in male but not in female age group runners. The slowest and fastest ultra runners had less pacing variability than medium level runners.

Associations between green tea drinking and body mass index, serum lipid profile and prostate-specific antigen in a Ghanaian population: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundProstate cancer (PCa) is a major malignancy that affects men worldwide. Obesity, dyslipidemia and elevated serum PSA are common risk factors. Green tea is a popular beverage in some West African communities with a relatively low incidence of PCa. However, the associations of green tea consumption with these PCa risk factors in that population remain unknown. This study therefore aimed at investigating the associations between green tea intake and the serum lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), and serum PSA.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted to compare the serum lipid profile, BMI and serum PSA between green tea drinkers (GTD) and non-tea drinkers (NTD). A total of 415 men, 40 years or older, who gave their consent were assigned to four groups on the basis of age: 40–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and 70 + years. BMI, serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, and triglycerides), and serum PSA level were determined and compared between GTD and NTD.ResultsCompared with the NTD group, the GTD with normal BMI were significantly greater across all age groups, and the odds of being overweight (obese) were significantly lower in the GTD group than in the NTD group. Compared with those in the NTD, significantly fewer atherogenic lipids in the GTD were observed across all age categories. Furthermore, the odds of dyslipidemia in GTD groups were lower than those in NTD groups across all age groups. A significantly lower mean serum PSA level was observed in the older GTD age groups (60–69 and 70+) than in the NTD group, and significantly lower odds of elevated serum PSA were detected in the GTD group than in the NTD group. However, there were no differences in the mean PSA between the GTD and NTD groups in the younger age groups. Weak positive correlations between serum PSA and BMI were observed in the NTD group regardless of the age category. However, a significantly strong negative correlation between the serum PSA concentration and BMI was observed in the older age GTD group compared with the NTD group.ConclusionsConsumption of green tea was associated with reduced atherogenic serum lipids and improved BMI independent of age. Furthermore, GTD was significantly associated with reduced serum PSA in older men but not in younger adults.

Neuroinflammation increases in old and oldest-old rats except for dura mater meningeal tissue with significant gender differences: a translational perspective.

Neuroinflammaging is the nervous system version of inflammaging, the low-grade inflammation that develops with advanced age, aside from active disease or infection. Despite neuroinflammaging has been widely investigated, some important issues still need to be resolved such as the analysis of the extremely old subjects and the evaluation of specific brain areas. On this background, we conducted a study to analyze expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes in Wistar rats of different ages, including the oldest-old, in different brain regions. We found that pro-inflammatory mediators were generally up-regulated with age in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, especially in the oldest-old group. Specifically, TNF-α showed an increment in expression with age in striatum, IL-1β and IFN-γ in hippocampus, and MCP-1 in cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Conversely, CX3CL1 and NOS2 showed a significant reduction of expression in the cortex of the oldest-old group. A different situation was observed in dura mater where TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, CX3CL1, and MCP-1 expression decreased in the older groups in comparison with the younger groups. With age the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were down-regulated in cortex, and TGF-β1 in dura mater, while IL-4 was up-regulated in the oldest-old group in hippocampus. Finally, we observed that female brains underwent an age-related increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression compared to males, except for striatum, and a general down-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines within each age group. Protein validation of selected factors by ELISA tests supported the observed changes. These data may represent a basis for future research about the neurobiology of aging, in particular in the neurodegenerative disorder framework.

Applying the health belief model (HBM) to understand COVID-19 vaccine uptake among youth and young adults: Findings from a 6-month follow-up study in the United States.

Applying the health belief model (HBM) to understand COVID-19 vaccine uptake among youth and young adults: Findings from a 6-month follow-up study in the United States.

Long term survival in elderly patients with resectable upper tract urothelial carcinoma: analysis of hospital-based cancer registry data in Japan

BackgroundTo clarify the long-term prognoses of elderly upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients after surgery.MethodsWe used a hospital-based cancer registry data in Japan to extract patients with pT1-3N0M0 UTUC diagnosed in 2009 who underwent surgery, and classified them by age group (≤ 64, 65–74, ≥ 75 years old). We estimated the 10-year overall survival (OS) by a Kaplan-Meier analysis. For cancer survival estimation, we calculated the 10-year net survival (NS) by Pohar-Preme method using the Japanese life tables.ResultsA total of 1139 UTUC patients (564 renal pelvic cancer [RPC] and 575 ureteral cancer [UrC]) were identified. The 10-year OS rates for elderly RPC patients (≥ 75 years old) were significantly worse than for younger patients (≤ 64 years old) in pT1 (43.1% vs. 80.1%) and pT2-3 (34.2% vs. 67.3%) stages. In contrast, the 10-year NS rates were comparable between elderly and younger RPC groups in pT1 (93.3% vs. 87.0%) and T2-3 (77.4% vs. 73.7%) stages. While the 10-year NS and OS rates of patients with pT1 UrC had similar trends as RPC patients, the NS and OS rates of elderly patients with pT2-3 UrC were significantly worse than younger patients.ConclusionsAmong resectable UTUC, except for pT2-3 UrC patients, estimated cancer survival rates for elderly patients were similar to younger patients. These findings may be useful in shared decision making by informing discussions about treatment strategies with elderly patients and their families.

Vitamin D status in the Faroe Islands: insights from the FarGen 2 cohort.

The aim of this study was to investigate overall vitamin D status in the Faroese population and assess the correlation between vitamin D levels and various sociodemographic and anthropometric factors, including sex, age, exercise, alcohol and tobacco consumption, BMI, body fat percentage, and seasonal variations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of vitamin D levels across all adult age groups within the Faroese population. P25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, anthropometric measurements and questionnaires from 1748 individuals enrolled in the FarGen 2 cohort were collected. Statistical analyses were performed to characterise the distribution and correlates of vitamin D concentration in the population. We observed a high sufficiency of vitamin D in the FarGen cohort, with 74.3% of the cohort having P-25-hydroxyvitamin D levels exceeding the recommended concentration of 50 nmol/l, and only 3.3% having a vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/l). The deficiency was mostly observed in younger age groups. Our results indicated significant seasonal fluctuations in vitamin D levels, as well as significant correlations between vitamin D levels, age, sex, BMI, and physical activity. Although the study suggests previous interventions have had a positive impact on vitamin D levels among the elderly, our findings emphasise the importance of enhancing awareness about vitamin D supplementation, promoting physical activity and encouraging consumption of vitamin D-rich foods. Such approaches could significantly advance public health initiatives related to vitamin D and general health within the Faroese population.

Disparities in overall survival of gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy: an age and rural-urban residence-based cohort study with propensity score matching analysis

This study estimated overall survival (OS) among gastric cancer patients stratified by age and rural-urban residence after radical gastrectomy. Patients (n = 286) undergoing curative gastrectomy were categorized into four groups based on age (older ≥ 60 years or younger < 60 years) and residence (rural or urban), including rural older (G1), urban older (G2), rural younger (G3) and urban younger (G4) groups. G1 presented with significantly more males, upper stomach cancers and total gastrectomies, while less patients receiving ≥ 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. The 5-year OS rates were 39.9% for G1, 61.1% for G2, 73.1% for G3, and 71.2% for G4, with a median OS of 47 months in G1 and not reached for other groups. OS was significantly worse in G1 than other groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression identified age, type of gastrectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy, perineural invasion, pT category and pN category as independent prognostic factors. After propensity score matching, rural older patients continued to show significantly inferior OS compared to urban older (hazard ratio = 2.269 [1.274–4.042], P = 0.005) and rural younger (hazard ratio = 2.103 [1.116–3.961], P = 0.021) patients. Rural older patients suffered poorer OS after radical gastrectomy, highlighting the need for special attention and comprehensive treatment strategies.

Prevalence of non-communicable disease and the associated factors among healthcare workers in Qatar

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) significantly impact global health and contribute to economic burdens and premature deaths, with healthcare workers (HCWs) being at high risk. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of NCDs among newly hired HCWs at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 3097 electronic medical records of newly hired HCWs at HMC during 2021 and 2022. Diagnoses were coded using ICD-10 and SNOMED. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used, with significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 31.8 years (SD ± 6.9), with almost equal numbers of males (50.1%) and females (49.9%). Indians made up 36.2%, and 63.9% were married. Professionally, 38% were nurses, 18.8% were physicians, and 11.2% were laboratory professionals. Overall, about one-third (30.9%) of the HCWs had at least one NCD. Diabetes mellitus (11.3%), thyroid disease (9.8%), and hypertension (7.4%) were the most frequent NCDs. Older individuals (≥ 40 years old) have higher comorbidity rates (47%) than younger groups (24%, p < 0.001). Females have higher rates (39.5%) compared to males (22.4%, p < 0.001). Married individuals, nationality, and occupation also significantly influence comorbidity, with administrative staff showing the highest prevalence of NCDs (45.5%, p = 0.011).ConclusionsOver 30% of the newly hired HCWs had an NCD, with diabetes, thyroid disease, and hypertension being most common. Higher prevalence was observed among older staff, females, married individuals, and administrative workers. Targeted workplace health programs are needed for early detection and prevention.