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Journal of Tissue Viability Jun 2024It is well known that women have been plagued by various skin problems. However, research on the characteristics of women's skin at different ages is still inadequate....
BACKGROUND
It is well known that women have been plagued by various skin problems. However, research on the characteristics of women's skin at different ages is still inadequate. In addition, there is a lack of research on the extent of women's skincare habits and skin care awareness.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey on skin was carried out in Shanghai, China, which was conducted by means of a questionnaire. 3678 women, aged 18-59 years, participated in the study. The information collected focused on the importance they place on their skin, the skin problems they have, and their use and perception of skin care products.
RESULTS
Before the age of 25, the most common skin problems that women face are dryness and oiliness, while after the age of 30, skin-ageing issues begin to appear and worsen with age. In addition, the higher the level of education, the higher the frequency of and compliance with sunscreen use, and the economy also affects women's use of sunscreen. Importantly, the importance women place on their skin and the level of sunscreen awareness affects women's use of sunscreen.
CONCLUSIONS
This study was conducted to understand the skin characteristics of women of different age groups as well as to determine the factors that influence the use of sunscreens, which will not only promote women's skin care practices and product development, but also provide important clues for future activities on sunscreen use and health promotion.
PubMed: 38951048
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2024.06.015 -
The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Jul 2024An economic choice entails computing and comparing the values of individual offers. Offer values are represented in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - an area that...
An economic choice entails computing and comparing the values of individual offers. Offer values are represented in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - an area that participates in value comparison - but it is unknown where offer values are computed in the first place. One possibility is that this computation takes place in OFC. Alternatively, offer values might be computed upstream of OFC. For choices between edible goods, a primary candidate is the gustatory region of the anterior insula (gustatory cortex; GC). Here we recorded from the GC of male rhesus monkeys choosing between different juice types. As a population, neurons in GC represented the flavor, the quantity, and the subjective value of the juice chosen by the animal. These variables were represented by distinct groups of cells, and with different time courses. Specifically, chosen value signals emerged shortly after offer presentation, while neurons encoding the chosen juice and the chosen quantity peaked after juice delivery. Surprisingly, neurons in GC did not represent individual offer values in a systematic way. In a computational sense, the variables encoded in GC follow the process of value comparison. Thus our results argue against the hypothesis that offer values are computed in GC. At the same time, signals representing the subjective value of the expected reward indicate that responses in GC are not purely sensory. Thus neuronal responses in GC appear consummatory in nature. We recorded from the gustatory cortex (GC) of monkeys choosing between different juice types. This area is interconnected with orbitofrontal cortex, which plays a primary role in the generation of economic choices. As a population, neurons in GC represented the flavor, the quantity, and the subjective value of the juice chosen by the animal. Conversely, neurons in GC did not systematically represent the value of individual offers. Computationally, the variables encoded in GC follow the process of value comparison. At the same time, GC responses are not purely sensory because they represent the (subjective) chosen value. Thus neuronal responses in GC appear consummatory in nature.
PubMed: 38951037
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2150-23.2024 -
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in... Jul 2024The debilitating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) result primarily from the degenerative nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. To elucidate pathogenic mechanisms...
The debilitating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) result primarily from the degenerative nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. To elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic strategies for PD, numerous animal models have been developed. Understanding the strengths and limitations of these models can significantly impact the choice of model, experimental design, and data interpretation. Herein, we systematically review the literature over the past decade. Some models no longer serve the purpose of PD models. The primary objectives of this review are: First, to assist new investigators in navigating through available animal models and making appropriate selections based on the objective of the study. Emphasis will be placed on common toxin-induced murine models. And second, to provide an overview of basic technical requirements for assessing the nigrostriatal pathway's pathology, structure, and function.
PubMed: 38951030
DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041643 -
BMJ Open Jul 2024The natural and best approach to give newborns the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development is through breast feeding. Breastfeeding rates fall more...
BACKGROUND
The natural and best approach to give newborns the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development is through breast feeding. Breastfeeding rates fall more sharply with time for mothers under the age of 20 years.
AIM
This study sought to explore the challenges experienced by adolescent mothers who visit the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana.
METHOD
This study employed a qualitative phenomenology design and collected data from adolescent mothers. Data were gathered with the aid of a semistructured in-depth interview guide from 13 breastfeeding adolescent mothers. Data for the study were analysed using content analysis. The study was conducted at the obstetrics and gynaecology department of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
FINDINGS
Two major themes were generated from the study to be the challenges that confront adolescent breastfeeding mothers, and they are maternal factors of breastfeeding barriers and societal factors of breastfeeding barriers. Subcategories were generated for both themes during the process.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Training of pregnant adolescents during antenatal care visits on how to manage the inability to lactate, breastfeeding stress, painful and sore nipple, engorged breast, stigma from society will lessen their burden. Furthermore, training close family members and friends on how to be kind and support adolescent mothers during breast feeding is important. In-service training should be organised for health workers to enhance their knowledge and practice of approaching and guiding adolescent mothers on effective breast feeding and the provision of cubicles in public places where adolescent mothers can comfortably breastfeed.
Topics: Humans; Breast Feeding; Ghana; Female; Adolescent; Hospitals, Teaching; Mothers; Qualitative Research; Young Adult; Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Interviews as Topic; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
PubMed: 38950996
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077504 -
BMJ Open Jul 2024Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a global health challenge. By the end of 2021, the WHO estimated that less than a quarter of global HCV infections had been...
OBJECTIVES
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a global health challenge. By the end of 2021, the WHO estimated that less than a quarter of global HCV infections had been diagnosed. There is a need for a public health tool that can facilitate the identification of people with HCV infection and link them to testing and treatment, and that can be customised for each country.
METHODS
We derived and validated a risk score to identify people with HCV in Egypt and demonstrated its utility. Using data from the 2008 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys, two risk scores were constructed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. A range of diagnostic metrics was then calculated to evaluate the performance of these scores.
RESULTS
The 2008 and 2014 risk scores exhibited similar dependencies on sex, age and type of place of residence. Both risk scores demonstrated high and similar areas under the curve of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.78) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.80), respectively. For the 2008 risk score, sensitivity was 73.7% (95% CI: 71.5% to 75.9%), specificity was 68.5% (95% CI: 67.5% to 69.4%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 27.8% (95% CI: 26.4% to 29.2%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 94.1% (95% CI: 93.5% to 94.6%). For the 2014 risk score, sensitivity was 64.0% (95% CI: 61.5% to 66.6%), specificity was 78.2% (95% CI: 77.5% to 78.9%), PPV was 22.2% (95% CI: 20.9% to 23.5%) and NPV was 95.7% (95% CI: 95.4% to 96.1%). Each score was validated by applying it to a different survey database than the one used to derive it.
CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of HCV risk scores is an effective strategy to identify carriers of HCV infection and to link them to testing and treatment at low cost to national programmes.
Topics: Humans; Egypt; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Middle Aged; Hepatitis C; Young Adult; Risk Assessment; Adolescent; Risk Factors; Logistic Models; Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38950989
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085506 -
The Journal of Rheumatology Jul 2024To provide a set of living treatment recommendations that will provide contemporary guidance on the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a set of living treatment recommendations that will provide contemporary guidance on the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Canada.
METHODS
The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), in conjunction with the Canadian Rheumatology Association, organized a treatment recommendations panel composed of rheumatologists, researchers, allied health professionals, and a patient advocate. A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach was used in which existing guidelines were adopted or adapted to a Canadian context. Recommendations were also placed in a health equity framework.
RESULTS
56 recommendations were made for patients with active axSpA, stable axSpA, active or stable axSpA, comorbidities, and for assessment, screening, and imaging. Recommendations were also made for principles of management, disease monitoring, and ethical considerations.
CONCLUSION
These living treatment recommendations will provide up to date guidance for the management of axSpA for Canadian practice. As part of the living model, they will be updated regularly as changes occur in the treatment landscape.
PubMed: 38950949
DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2023-1237 -
Disability and Rehabilitation Jul 2024Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing condition, almost always leading to disability. The aim was to determine the period-prevalence of activity limitations,...
PURPOSE
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing condition, almost always leading to disability. The aim was to determine the period-prevalence of activity limitations, participation restrictions, and environmental barriers in community-dwelling persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Kenya.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 90 community-dwelling adult persons living with TSCI for more than 1 year, recruited from the database of the only specialised rehabilitation, in-patient, facility in Kenya. Modules of the International Spinal Cord Injury community survey (InSCI) used were demographic and injury characteristics; activity and participation; and environmental factors.
RESULTS
Most prevalent activity limitations and participation restrictions in the total sample were using public transportation (90%), standing unsupported (83%), getting to destination (76%), and toileting (76%). The top environmental barriers were inadequate finances (96%), inaccessibility of public places (92%), and problems with long distance transportation (90%). Participants with tetraplegia were more affected with activity limitations and participation restrictions than those with paraplegia.
CONCLUSION
Functioning problems and environmental barriers are prevalent among adults living with TSCI in Kenya. Although this is the best-case scenario with respect to healthcare services, where individuals received inpatient rehabilitation previously, a need exists to examine the principles and models of rehabilitation and explore the value proposition of primary care/community level rehabilitation to further optimise independence and functioning.
PubMed: 38950895
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2365413 -
Infectious Diseases Now Jun 2024The objectives were to assess trends over the past 10 years in vaccination coverage rates (VCR) among adolescents in France aged 14-15 years, factors influencing...
OBJECTIVES
The objectives were to assess trends over the past 10 years in vaccination coverage rates (VCR) among adolescents in France aged 14-15 years, factors influencing decisions to vaccinate, and mothers' opinions on adolescent vaccination.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The 'Vaccinoscopie' internet survey is completed each year by mothers of adolescents, with questions about vaccinations received by their children, and their attitudes and barriers to vaccination. The 2012 to 2021 surveys were analyzed in this study, including data from 1500 adolescents in 2012 and 1000 adolescents each year from 2013 to 2021.
RESULTS
None of the adolescent VCR targets were met, despite significant increases since 2012 for vaccines with the lowest coverage rates and vaccines with high but insufficient coverage i.e., meningococcal C (28.7% to 60.8%), HPV in girls (14.2% to 40.8%), hepatitis B (31.6% to 47.3%) and pertussis (76.3% to 91.0%). Physicians remained the primary source of vaccination information for 90.4% of mothers, and their advice had a real impact on improving VCRs. Adolescents were increasingly involved (40.1%) in decisions about vaccination. Depending on the vaccine, over 80% of mothers currently consider adolescent vaccination as useful or essential. Since 2017, they also feel better informed.
CONCLUSIONS
Low and under-target VCRs put adolescents at risk of severe disease, and do not enable herd immunity or reduced transmission to other vulnerable age groups to be accomplished. Healthcare professionals must take every opportunity to check adolescents' vaccination status and recommend catch-up vaccines where applicable. Vaccination in schools should be considered.
PubMed: 38950884
DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2024.104952 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Jun 2024Acute stimulation of M or M muscarinic cholinergic receptors reduces cocaine abuse-related effects in mice and rats. The combined activation of these receptor subtypes...
Acute stimulation of M or M muscarinic cholinergic receptors reduces cocaine abuse-related effects in mice and rats. The combined activation of these receptor subtypes produces synergistic effects on some behavioural endpoints in mice. M and M + M receptor stimulation in a cocaine vs. food choice assay in rats and microdialysis in rats showed delayed and lasting "anticocaine effects". Here, we tested whether these putative lasting neuroplastic changes are sufficient to occlude the reinforcing effects of cocaine at the behavioural level in mice. Mice were pre-treated with the M receptor partial agonist VU0364572, M receptor positive allosteric modulator VU0152100, or VU0364572 + VU0152100 two weeks prior to acquisition of cocaine intravenous self-administration (IVSA). Male C57BL/6JRj mice received vehicle, VU0364572, VU0152100, or VU0364572 + VU0152100. Female mice were tested with two VU0364572 + VU0152100 dose combinations or vehicle. To attribute potential effects to either reduced rewarding effects or increased aversion to cocaine, we tested VU0364572 alone and VU0364572 + VU0152100 in acquisition of cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP) in male mice using an unbiased design. The acquisition of cocaine IVSA was drastically reduced and/or slowed in male and female mice receiving VU0364572 + VU0152100, but not either drug alone. Food-maintained operant behaviour was unaffected, indicating that the treatment effects were cocaine-specific. No treatment altered the acquisition of cocaine-CPP, neither in the post-test, nor in a challenge 14 days later. The cocaine IVSA findings confirm unusual long-lasting "anticocaine" effects of muscarinic M + M receptor stimulation. Thus, in mice, simultaneous stimulation of both receptor subtypes seems to produce potential neuroplastic changes that yield lasting effects.
PubMed: 38950842
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111079 -
Indocyanine Green in gynecologic surgery: where do we stand? A litterature review and meta-analysis.Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and... Jun 2024The main objective of this study was to review and perform a meta-analysis of current literature on the use of indocyanine green for sentinel lymph node detection in... (Review)
Review
The main objective of this study was to review and perform a meta-analysis of current literature on the use of indocyanine green for sentinel lymph node detection in pelvic gynecologic cancer. We included all studies focusing on indications and procedures associated with the use of ICG in gynecologic surgery and available on the Medline and Pubmed database. For the meta-analysis, random effect models were used for estimation of the 95% detection rate and 95% confidence interval, and stratified analyses by cancer type, concentration and localization of injection were performed. A total of 147 articles were included, of which 91 were studied in a meta-analysis. Results concerning detection rate by indocyanine green injection site were found to be 95.1% and 97.3% respectively for intracervical injection in 2 or 4 quadrants, and 77.0% and 94.8% for hysteroscopic and intradermal injection respectively. Results concerning detection rate by cancer type were 95.8%, 95.2%, 94.7% and 95.7% respectively for cervical, endometrial, vulvar and endometrial/cervical cancers. Finally, the results concerning detection rate by indocyanine green concentration were 91.2%, 95.7%, 96.7% and 97.7% for concentrations of <1.25 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml respectively. In conclusion, indocyanine green is shown to allow highlighting of sentinel lymph nodes with good reliability with an overall indocyanine green detection rate of 95.5%. Our literature review revealed that indocyanine green feasibility has also been demonstrated in several surgical contexts, notably for reconstructive surgery and detection of endometriosis.
PubMed: 38950735
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2024.102819