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To examine the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components as risk factors for a cardiovascular (CV) event, in individuals without diabetes and/or hypertension, and to explore which of the risk factors are the most predictive for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and whether the assessment of risk could be simplified.
A longitudinal, cross-sectional study.
A randomly selected population.
In 2002–2005, 2816 randomly selected residents of Skaraborg, Sweden, underwent physical examinations and blood tests as part of the Skaraborg Project. Exclusion of individuals with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension at baseline left 2328 persons for analyses.
CV events were assessed in 2011 using national Swedish registers.
A total of 293 (13%) were defined as having the MetS according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) and 292 according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition, whereof 27 had a CV event after a mean follow-up time of 9.7 years. The MetS according to NCEP was significantly predictive of a CVD with an HR 2.4 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.9) but not according to the IDF definition. Blood pressure was significantly predictive according to both definitions (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.97). Also, triglycerides (Tg) were significantly predictive for a CV event (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.59). Neither waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein nor fasting plasma glucose was predictive for a CV event. Combining a blood pressure ≥125/≥80 mm Hg with Tg ≥1.5 mmol/L was predictive for CVD (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.6) with a sensitivity of 32.5% and numbers needed to examine (NNE) 7.1. Lowering the cut-off for Tg to ≥1.2 mmol/L (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.4) increased sensitivity to 44.9% and NNE became 8.
Using blood pressure combined with Tg was shown to be an equally good predictor for CVD as the complete MetS in individuals without diagnosed diabetes or hypertension. Therefore, healthcare personnel should pay attention to individuals with a borderline blood pressure, and if equivalent to or equal to 125/85, continue with measuring Tg for a discussion concerning lifestyle.
Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) can cause progressive and permanent vision loss. Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a primary treatment option globally, it is not approved for CSC worldwide, limiting therapeutic access. The REPLAY trial is a phase III, investigator-initiated trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reduced-fluence PDT (rf-PDT) for chronic CSC to seek the first regulatory approval globally.
This study comprises two cohorts. The ‘untreated cohort’ is a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial involving 60 patients with untreated, fovea-involving chronic CSC, randomised 2:1 to receive a single rf-PDT or placebo treatment. The ‘previously treated cohort’ is a single-arm, open-label trial for up to 10 patients with recurrent CSC after PDT. The primary endpoint for both cohorts is the proportion of eyes with a complete resolution of subfoveal fluid at 12 weeks post-treatment, assessed by optical coherence tomography. Secondary endpoints include changes in best-corrected visual acuity, central choroidal thickness, recurrence rates and incidence of adverse events over a 48 week follow-up.
The study protocol was approved by the Kyoto University Hospital Institutional Review Board, IRB of Chiba University Hospital, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Institutional Review Board and Institutional Review Board of Kansai Medical University Hospital. Written informed consent is obtained from all participants. The results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations at scientific conferences.
jRCT2051230156 (URL: https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCT2051230156).
by Tomoo Hidaka, Takeyasu Kakamu, Hideaki Kasuga, Yuko Suzuki, Toshihiro Terui, Shizuka Kawamoto, Tatsuya Sato
Municipal government officials (MGOs) have played key roles in managing decontamination project of radioactive materials in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. However, the subjective distress experienced by MGOs during the decontamination project, mainly stemming from challenges in coordination with the national government, is not yet fully documented. The purpose of this study is to descriptively understand the nature and causes of subjective distress among MGOs and to make an exploratory conceptual model of the process through which such subjective distress becomes manifest. Narratives from three MGOs were collected through interviews and subjected to qualitative analysis using the Steps for Coding and Theorisation method. For the first purpose, the results indicate that inconsistencies in national reconstruction and decontamination designs impose substantial burdens at the operational level; these burdens are further amplified by inadequate management by national authorities, and subjective distress emerges through a breakdown of trust among national government officials, municipalities, and residents. For the second purpose, an exploratory conceptual model explaining the progression toward subjective distress through the following four stages was created: the emergence of distrust and adversarial orientations toward the national government, the dilemma of occupying an intermediate position, the erosion of ties with residents, and the threat to professional pride. Overall, through experiences such as questioning the national government’s reconstruction policies, enduring the psychological burden of occupying an intermediate position, and witnessing a breakdown in trust with residents, MGOs may find their professional pride undermined; consequently, subjective distress, manifesting as a profound sense of emptiness, may arise. As MGOs are likely to stand at the frontline of managing post-radiation-disaster reconstruction and decontamination efforts, it is essential to develop protective measures for their mental health from both macro-level, organisational perspectives and micro-level, occupational and psychological perspectives.
by Simon Söderholm, Martin Ulander, Vanessa William Toma, Sara Kaufmann, Xiangyu Qiao, Daniel Berglind, Susanna Calling, Bledar Daka, Ludger Grote, Mats Martinell, Frida Bergman, Pontus Henriksson, Carl-Johan Östgren, Wen Zhong, Claudio Cantù, Fredrik Iredahl
Coffee is the most common drink in the world, second only to water. This makes caffeine, the ingredient of coffee known for its wakefulness-promoting effects, one of the most used psychoactive substances. The psychoactive property of caffeine is well-characterized, and entails its interaction with the adenosine receptors, involved in sleep regulation. While studies have shown a deleterious immediate effect of caffeine on sleep, less is known about the effects of chronic caffeine exposure. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated this relationship across a large cohort of 30,154 individuals participating in the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study (SCAPIS), which allowed us to compare habitual coffee intake with sleep habits, subjective estimate of daytime sleepiness, and underlying genetic variants. According to our analyses, different degrees of coffee consumption, confirmed by statistical association with previously reported genetic variants, showed very low association with estimated patterns of sleep habits or perceived daytime sleepiness. These results indicate that coffee may be less impactful on sleep habits than previously thought, or that other mechanisms, such as the adaptive capabilities of the adenosine system in adult coffee users, may dampen its psychoactive potency.
by Bwambale Jonani, Emmanuel Charles Kasule, Bwire Roman Herman, Joel Fredrick Arturo, Mwesigwa Calvin Mugambwa, Ssebulime Stephen, John Bosco Mundaka, Richard Kwizera, Gerald Mboowa, Felix Bongomin
IntroductionSickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is a significant genetic disorder in Africa; however, comprehensive data on its prevalence and geographic distribution remain limited. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of SCA (HbSS) in African populations and examine regional, demographic, and temporal variations from 1994–2024.
MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and BASE databases for studies reporting SCA prevalence in African populations. Screening and quality assessments were performed using JBI tools. A random-effects meta-analysis with logit transformation was performed, with subgroup analyses by region, age, sex, and study design. Meta-regression explored heterogeneity sources, including geographic region, age category, diagnostic method, study design, and publication year.
ResultsFrom 115 studies with 1,203,839 participants and 17,458 confirmed HbSS cases, the pooled prevalence was 1.43% (95% CI: 1.08%–1.88%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.1%) and a prediction interval of 0.21%–8.91%. Central Africa showed the highest prevalence (1.99%), and Southern Africa showed the lowest (0.59%). Children exhibited a higher prevalence (1.65%) than adults (0.45%), while sex differences were non-significant (males 2.71%, females 1.74%; p = 0.694). The prevalence has remained stable over three decades despite a six-fold increase in research output, although wide prediction intervals indicated substantial between-study variability. Electrophoretic techniques predominated (86.4% of cases). Diagnostic method (χ² = 16.73, p = 0.033) and age category (χ² = 33.66, p 2 = 98.6%). Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis showed that no single study significantly impacted the pooled estimates.
ConclusionSCA represents a substantial and geographically variable public health challenge across Africa. These findings highlight the need for region-specific interventions, expanded newborn screening programs, improved diagnostic accessibility with quality assurance for point-of-care technologies, and continued surveillance to address geographic gaps.
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