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Frontiers in Public Health 2024To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health condition of people ≥75 years of age and on their family caregivers in Spain.
AIMS
To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health condition of people ≥75 years of age and on their family caregivers in Spain.
DESIGN
Multicentric, mixed method concurrent study.
METHODS
This work, which will be conducted within the primary care setting in 11 administrative regions of Spain, will include three coordinated studies with different methodologies. The first is a population-based cohort study that will use real-life data to analyze the rates and evolution of health needs, care provision, and services utilization before, during, and after the pandemic. The second is a prospective cohort study with 18 months of follow-up that will evaluate the impact of COVID-19 disease on mortality, frailty, functional and cognitive capacity, and quality of life of the participants. Finally, the third will be a qualitative study with a critical social approach to understand and interpret the social, political, and economic dimensions associated with the use of health services during the pandemic. We have followed the SPIRIT Checklist to address trial protocol and related documents. This research is being funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III since 2021 and was approved by its ethics committee (June 2022).
DISCUSSION
The study findings will reveal the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the older adults and their caregivers. This information will serve policymakers to adapt health policies to the needs of this population in situations of maximum stress, such as that produced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Identifier: NCT05249868 [ClinicalTrials.gov].
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Spain; Aged; Self Care; Prospective Studies; Caregivers; Female; Aged, 80 and over; Quality of Life; Male; Health Status; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 38952731
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1389641 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Studies have analyzed the effects of industrial installations on the environment and human health in Taranto, Southern Italy. Literature documented associations between...
INTRODUCTION
Studies have analyzed the effects of industrial installations on the environment and human health in Taranto, Southern Italy. Literature documented associations between different variables and dementia mortality among both women and men. The present study aims to investigate the associations between sex, environment, age, disease duration, pandemic years, anti-dementia drugs, and death rate.
METHODS
Data from the regional medication registry were used. All women and men with an anti-dementia medication between 2015 and 2021 were included and followed-up to 2021. Bayesian mixed effects logistic and Cox regression models with time varying exposures were fitted using integrated nested Laplace approximations and adjusting for patients and therapy characteristics.
RESULTS
A total of 7,961 person-years were observed. Variables associated with lower prevalence of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) medication were male sex (OR 0.63, 95% CrI 0.42-0.96), age 70-79 years (OR 0.17, 95% CrI 0.06-0.47) and ≥ 80 years (OR 0.08, 95% CrI 0.03-0.23), disease duration of 2-3 years (OR 0.43, 95% CrI 0.32-0.56) and 4-6 years (OR 0.21, 95% CrI 0.13-0.33), and pandemic years 2020 (OR 0.50, 95% CrI 0.37-0.67) and 2021 (OR 0.47, 95% CrI 0.33-0.65). Variables associated with higher mortality were male sex (HR 2.14, 95% CrI 1.75-2.62), residence in the contaminated site of national interest (SIN) (HR 1.25, 95% CrI 1.02-1.53), age ≥ 80 years (HR 6.06, 95% CrI 1.94-18.95), disease duration of 1 year (HR 1.50, 95% CrI 1.12-2.01), 2-3 years (HR 1.90, 95% CrI 1.45-2.48) and 4-6 years (HR 2.21, 95% CrI 1.60-3.07), and pandemic years 2020 (HR 1.38, 95% CrI 1.06-1.80) and 2021 (HR 1.56, 95% CrI 1.21-2.02). Variables associated with lower mortality were therapy with AChEIs alone (HR 0.69, 95% CrI 0.56-0.86) and in combination with memantine (HR 0.54, 95% CrI 0.37-0.81).
DISCUSSION
Male sex, age, disease duration, and pandemic years appeared to be associated with lower AChEIs medications. Male sex, residence in the SIN of Taranto, age, disease duration, and pandemic years seemed to be associated with an increased death rate, while AChEIs medication seemed to be associated with improved survival rate.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Italy; Aged; Bayes Theorem; Dementia; Aged, 80 and over; Sex Factors; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Survival Analysis; Cohort Studies; COVID-19; Middle Aged; Registries
PubMed: 38952726
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1380609 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Acute and long-term health impacts from flooding related toxic chemical releases are a significant local health concern and can disproportionately impact communities...
INTRODUCTION
Acute and long-term health impacts from flooding related toxic chemical releases are a significant local health concern and can disproportionately impact communities with vulnerable populations; reliable release data are needed to quantify this hazard.
METHODS
In this paper, we analyze US Federal Emergency Management Agency designated floodplain data and US Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data to determine if geographically manipulated databases adhere to Benford's Law.
RESULTS
We investigated multiple variants and discovered pollution releases adhere to Benford's Law and tests which thereby validates the self-reported toxic release dataset.
DISCUSSION
We find that Benford's Law applies to self-reported toxic chemical release and disposal data, indicating a lack of widespread data errors or manipulation.
Topics: Humans; Self Report; United States; Floods; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Chemical Hazard Release; Hazardous Substances
PubMed: 38952724
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1342510 -
Ecology and Evolution Jul 2024Assessments of ecosystem functioning are a fundamental ecological challenge and an essential foundation for ecosystem-based management. Species trophic position (TP) is...
Challenging trophic position assessments in complex ecosystems: Calculation method, choice of baseline, trophic enrichment factors, season and feeding guild do matter: A case study from Marquesas Islands coral reefs.
Assessments of ecosystem functioning are a fundamental ecological challenge and an essential foundation for ecosystem-based management. Species trophic position (TP) is essential to characterize food web architecture. However, despite the intuitive nature of the concept, empirically estimating TP is a challenging task due to the complexity of trophic interaction networks. Various methods are proposed to assess TPs, including using different sources of organic matter at the base of the food web (the 'baseline'). However, it is often not clear which methodological approach and which baseline choices are the most reliable. Using an ecosystem-wide assessment of a tropical reef (Marquesas Islands, with available data for 70 coral reef invertebrate and fish species), we tested whether different commonly used TP estimation methods yield similar results and, if not, whether it is possible to identify the most reliable method. We found significant differences in TP estimates of up to 1.7 TPs for the same species, depending on the method and the baseline used. When using bulk stable isotope data, the choice of the baseline significantly impacted TP values. Indeed, while nitrogen stable isotope (δN) values of macroalgae led to consistent TP estimates, those using phytoplankton generated unrealistically low TP estimates. The use of a conventional enrichment factor (i.e. 3.4‰) or a 'variable' enrichment factor (i.e. according to feeding guilds) also produced clear discrepancies between TP estimates. TPs obtained with δN values of source amino acids (compound-specific isotope analysis) were close to those assessed with macroalgae. An opposite seasonal pattern was found, with significantly lower TPs in winter than in summer for most species, with particularly pronounced differences for lower TP species. We use the observed differences to discuss possible drivers of the diverging TP estimates and the potential ecological implications.
PubMed: 38952648
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11620 -
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences Jun 2024Exchange transfusion (ET) is an effective treatment for acute bilirubin encephalopathy and extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (ENH). It can reduce mortality and...
BACKGROUND
Exchange transfusion (ET) is an effective treatment for acute bilirubin encephalopathy and extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (ENH). It can reduce mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the trends and risk factors of ENH requiring ET in hospitalized neonates in Iran.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of medical records of neonates who underwent ET due to ENH was conducted from 2011 to 2021, in Shiraz, Iran. Clinical records were used to gather demographic and laboratory data. The quantitative data were expressed as mean±SD, and qualitative data was presented as frequency and percentage. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
During the study, 377 ETs were performed for 329 patients. The annual rate of ET decreased by 71.2% during the study period. The most common risk factor of ENH was glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (35%), followed by prematurity (13.06%), ABO hemolytic disease (7.6%), sepsis (6.4%), Rh hemolytic disease (6.08%), and minor blood group incompatibility (3.34%). In 28.52% of the cases, the cause of ENH was not identified. 17 (5.1%) neonates had acute bilirubin encephalopathy, of whom 6 (35.29%) had G6PD deficiency, 6 (35.29%) had ABO incompatibility, and 2 (11.76%) had Rh incompatibility.
CONCLUSION
Although the rate of ET occurrence has decreased, it seems necessary to consider different risk factors and appropriate guidelines for early identification and management of neonates at risk of ENH should be developed. The findings of the study highlighted the important risk factors of ENH in southern Iran, allowing for the development of appropriate prevention strategies.
Topics: Humans; Iran; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal; Infant, Newborn; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; Female; Risk Factors; Male; Retrospective Studies; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency; Kernicterus; Blood Group Incompatibility
PubMed: 38952637
DOI: 10.30476/ijms.2023.99176.3123 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Delirium, a common complication in elderly surgical patients, poses significant challenges in perioperative care. Perioperative geriatric services (PGS) aim at managing... (Review)
Review
Delirium, a common complication in elderly surgical patients, poses significant challenges in perioperative care. Perioperative geriatric services (PGS) aim at managing comorbidities, postoperative complications, and initiating early recovery of mobility to enhance elderly patients' prognosis in the perioperative period. Studies have shown that patients with preoperative cognitive disorders are at a significantly increased risk of postoperative delirium. While postoperative delirium affects up to 70% of people over 60 and 90% of people with neurodegenerative diseases, it remains underdiagnosed in many cases. Postoperative delirium can lead to functional decline, prolonged hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, cognitive impairment, and psychological malaise. This article briefly summarizes the literature on delirium, its risk factors, and its non-pharmaceutical management strategies within the perioperative period. It highlights the importance of integrating cognitive and psychological assessments into perioperative care protocols to provide baseline data, improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital stays, and minimize complications associated with delirium. By embracing evidence-based delirium management protocols, healthcare professionals can better identify and manage delirium, ultimately improving the quality of care for elderly surgical patients, which would also benefit healthcare staff and healthcare institutions.
PubMed: 38952635
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1394583 -
International Journal of Nursing... Jun 2024Incidents affecting patient safety can cause unnecessary injury to a patient. It is generally accepted that incident reporting can improve patient safety. In Ethiopian...
BACKGROUND
Incidents affecting patient safety can cause unnecessary injury to a patient. It is generally accepted that incident reporting can improve patient safety. In Ethiopian public hospitals, especially in the Hadiya zone, patient safety-related incidents are commonly witnessed, but there is no evidence of reporting behavior among healthcare professionals.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to assess patient safety incident reporting behavior and its associated factors among healthcare professionals working in public hospitals in the Hadiya zone, South Nation's, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia, in 2021.
METHOD
A cross-sectional study design was employed, among 345 healthcare professionals working in public hospitals in the Hadiya zone from August 1-30, 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants, and a structured self-administered questionnaire which is adapted from a Hospital survey on patient safety survey and literature was used to collect the data. The data were entered into a data attraction template prepared using the Epi data software and then exported to the SPSS version 25 software for analysis. Descriptive analyses were conducted to determine the general characteristics and distributions of the data collected. An inferential statistical analysis was conducted using the logistic regression model to identify associations between outcome and predictor variables. The odds ratio with the 95 % confidence interval was used to test the associations between the outcome variable and predictor variables. Finally, statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05.
RESULTS
From the total of 354 healthcare professionals expected, 334 participants, which gave a response rate of 94.4 %, had completed and returned the questionnaire. The result shows that overall patient safety incident reporting behavior among healthcare professionals was 28.7 % (95 % Confidence Interval (CI): (24.6, 33.2). Being a nurse professional [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR): 5.48, 95 % CI: (1.67, 17.80)], having job training [AOR: 2.87, 95 % CI: (1.46, 6.28)], having a team within the units [AOR=2.79, 95 %CI: (1.23, 6.28)], communication openness [AOR=2.78, 95 %CI: (1.44, 5.37)], and management support [AOR=2.8, 95 %CI; (1.40, 5.60)] were found to factor significantly associated with patient safety incident reporting behaviour.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed that the incident-reporting behavior among healthcare professionals was low compared to previous studies. Being a nurse professional, having an on -job training, having a team within the unit, communication openness, perception of the time reporting takes, fear of administration sanction and management support were factors associated with their patient safety incident reporting behavior. Managers should focus on patient safety incidents, prepare continuous training programs, and provide open communication to improve patient safety incident reporting.
PubMed: 38952573
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100209 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Breast cancer remains one of the predominant malignancies worldwide. In the context of inoperable advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2...
Partial response to trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS8201) following progression in HER2-amplified breast cancer with pulmonary metastases managed with disitamab vedotin (RC48): a comprehensive case report and literature review.
Breast cancer remains one of the predominant malignancies worldwide. In the context of inoperable advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, systemic management primarily relies on HER2-targeting monoclonal antibodies. With the successful development of anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), these agents have been increasingly integrated into therapeutic regimens for metastatic breast cancer. Here, we present the case of a 42-year-old female patient with HER2-positive pulmonary metastatic breast cancer who underwent an extensive treatment protocol. This protocol included chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, surgical intervention on the breast, and anti-HER2 therapies. The anti-HER2 therapies involved both singular and dual targeting strategies using trastuzumab and the ADC disitamab vedotin (RC48) over an 8-year period. After experiencing disease progression following HER2-targeted therapy with RC48, the patient achieved noticeable partial remission through a therapeutic regimen that combined trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS8201) and tislelizumab. The data suggest a promising role for DS8201 in managing advanced stages of HER2-amplified metastatic breast cancer, especially in cases that demonstrate progression after initial HER2-directed therapies using ADCs. Furthermore, its combination with anti-PD-1 agents enhances therapeutic efficacy by augmenting the anti-tumoral immune response.
PubMed: 38952555
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1338661 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Studies about the genomic landscape of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have predominantly...
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Studies about the genomic landscape of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have predominantly originated from developed nations. There are still limited data on the molecular epidemiology of MBC in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of mutations in the PI3K-AKT pathway and other actionable drivers in estrogen receptor (ER)+/HER2- MBC among Brazilian patients treated at a large institution representative of the nation's demographic diversity.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective observational study using laboratory data (OC Precision Medicine). Our study included tumor samples from patients with ER+/HER2- MBC who underwent routine tumor testing from 2020 to 2023 and originated from several Brazilian centers within the Oncoclinicas network. Two distinct next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays were used: GS Focus (23 genes, covering , , , , , , , , but not ) or GS 180 (180 genes, including PTEN, tumor mutation burden [TMB] and microsatellite instability [MSI]).
RESULTS
Evaluation of tumor samples from 328 patients was undertaken, mostly (75.6%) with GS Focus. Of these, 69% were primary tumors, while 31% were metastatic lesions. The prevalence of mutations in the PI3K-AKT pathway was 39.3% (95% confidence interval, 33% to 43%), distributed as 37.5% in and 1.8% in . Stratification by age revealed a higher incidence of mutations in this pathway among patients over 50 (44.5% vs 29.1%, p=0.01). Among the mutations, 78% were canonical (included in the alpelisib companion diagnostic non-NGS test), while the remaining 22% were characterized as non-canonical mutations (identifiable only by NGS test). mutations were detected in 6.1%, exhibiting a higher frequency in metastatic samples (15.1% vs 1.3%, p=0.003). Additionally, mutations in , or were identified in 3.9% of cases, while mutations in were found in 2.1%. No mutations were detected, nor were TMB high or MSI cases.
CONCLUSION
We describe the genomic landscape of Brazilian patients with ER+/HER2- MBC, in which the somatic mutation profile is comparable to what is described in the literature globally. These data are important for developing precision medicine strategies in this scenario, as well as for health systems management and research initiatives.
PubMed: 38952553
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1372947 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Pre-clinical studies showed the anti-tumor mechanisms of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and platinum have some crossover and overlap in the DNA damage repair pathway, patients...
BACKGROUND
Pre-clinical studies showed the anti-tumor mechanisms of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and platinum have some crossover and overlap in the DNA damage repair pathway, patients who respond to platinum-based chemotherapy are also more likely to be sensitive to PARPi. This real-world study mainly aimed to evaluate whether TRAE (treatment-related adverse event) between platinum based chemotherapy (PBC) and niraparib are also associated.
METHODS
Patients received niraparib as maintenance treatment or salvage therapy for advanced ovarian cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from January 2020 to August 2023 were included. Survival data of niraparib treatment and adverse events occurred during the last platinum-based chemotherapy cycle before starting niraparib treatment and during niraparib treatment are documented. Fisher's exact test were used for correlation analysis.
RESULTS
1. 40 patients treated with niraparib were included in the analysis, including 31 patients treated with niraparib for 1st-line maintenance therapy, 6 patients for PSR (platinum-sensitive recurrence) maintenance therapy, and 3 patients for salvage therapy. The overall median follow-up time was 15.0 months (ranged from 2.2 months to 32.1 months). 2. Overall grade≥3 TRAE (40% vs 70%, p=0.012) including anemia (20% vs 45%, p=0.041) and neutrophil count decreased (17.5% vs 57.5%, p<0.001) was significantly lower during niraparib treatment compared to during chemotherapy. 3. Any grade TRAE (75% vs 100%, p=0.002) including white blood cell count decreased (47.5% vs 87.5%, p<0.001), red blood cell count decreased (57.5% vs 92.5%, p<0.001), anemia (55% vs 87.5%, p<0.001) and neutrophil count decreased (35% vs 85%, p<0.001) were also significantly lower in niraparib treatment group compared with chemotherapy group. No new safety signals were identified.
CONCLUSION
1. In this real-world practice, we observed that patients with advanced ovarian cancer who experienced any grade and grade ≥3 TRAE during chemotherapy were well tolerated when treated with niraparib, particularly the incidence of any grade and grade ≥3 anemia, and neutrophil count decreased during niraparib treatment were significantly lower compared with that during chemotherapy. 2. For patients with ovarian cancer who have experienced grade ≥3 hematological adverse reactions during prior platinum-based chemotherapy, greater attention should be paid to the monitoring and management of hematological adverse reactions during subsequent treatment with niraparib.
PubMed: 38952544
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1390820