The effect of herpes zoster vaccination at different stages of the disease course of dementia: Two quasi-randomized studies.

The varicella zoster virus, a neurotropic herpesvirus, has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of dementia, such as through neuroinflammatory processes or intracerebral vasculopathy. Using unique natural experiments, our group has previously found that live-attenuated herpes zoster (HZ) vaccination reduced the incidence of new diagnoses of dementia in both Wales and Australia. To inform further research and ultimately clinical care, it is crucial to understand at which stage of the disease course of dementia the HZ vaccine has its effect.

Herpes zoster vaccination and new diagnoses of dementia: A quasi-randomized study in Australia.

Increasing evidence suggests that neurotropic herpesviruses could play a role in the development of dementia, possibly through a neuroinflammatory process. Herpes zoster (HZ) vaccination has been reported to lead to a reduced probability of being diagnosed with dementia in several correlational studies and in a prior analysis by our team in Wales. This present study constitutes the first investigation to use a quasi-randomized study design in an electronic health record dataset from a large and diverse nation (Australia) to aim to determine the effect of HZ vaccination on dementia.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults living in extreme poverty.

Evidence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor prevalence among adults living below the World Bank's international line for extreme poverty (those with income <$1.90 per day) globally is sparse. Here we pooled individual-level data from 105 nationally representative household surveys across 78 countries, representing 85% of people living in extreme poverty globally, and sorted individuals by country-specific measures of household income or wealth to identify those in extreme poverty.

Quasi-experimental evaluation of a nationwide diabetes prevention programme.

Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and cost of illness. Health behaviours, particularly those related to nutrition and physical activity, play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Whereas behaviour change programmes (also known as lifestyle interventions or similar) have been found efficacious in controlled clinical trials, there remains controversy about whether targeting health behaviours at the individual level is an effective preventive strategy for type 2 diabetes mellitus and doubt among clinicians that lifestyle advice and counselling provided in the routine health system can achieve improvements in health.

Remineralizing potential of the biomimetic P-4 self-assembling peptide on noncavitated caries lesions: A retrospective cohort study evaluating semistandardized before-and-after radiographs.

Background: Self-assembling peptide (SAP) P-4 was introduced to treat initial caries lesions by means of guiding hydroxyapatite regeneration within the lesion. The objective of this study was to assess its effectiveness in a practical clinical setting.

Methods: Caries lesions in permanent teeth treated with monomeric and polymeric SAP P-4 from May 2015 through October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed at lesion and child levels by means of bite-wing radiography for changes in stage and cavitation and restoration.

Achieving behavior change at scale: Causal evidence from a national lifestyle intervention program for pre-diabetes in the UK.

There remains widespread doubt among clinicians that mere lifestyle advice and counseling provided in routine care can achieve improvements in health. We aimed to determine the health effects of the largest behavior change program for pre-diabetes globally (the English Diabetes Prevention Programme) when implemented at scale in routine care. We exploited the threshold in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) used to decide on program eligibility by applying a regression discontinuity design, one of the most credible quasi-experimental strategies for causal inference, to electronic health data from approximately one-fifth of all primary care practices in England.

Patterns of tobacco use in low and middle income countries by tobacco product and sociodemographic characteristics: nationally representative survey data from 82 countries.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and frequency of using any tobacco product and each of a detailed set of tobacco products, how tobacco use and frequency of use vary across countries, world regions, and World Bank country income groups, and the socioeconomic and demographic gradients of tobacco use and frequency of use within countries.

Design: Secondary analysis of nationally representative, cross-sectional, household survey data from 82 low and middle income countries collected between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020.

Setting: Population based survey data.

Maintenance Therapy with Aromatase Inhibitor in epithelial Ovarian Cancer (MATAO): study protocol of a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled multi-center phase III Trial.

Background: A high percentage of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) express the estrogen receptor (ER), which is an ideal target for endocrine therapy. Letrozole is a proven, potent aromatase inhibitor, extensively tested and used in the treatment of ER positive breast cancer. In addition, it seems a potent drug for patients with heavily pre-treated OC as demonstrated in several distinctive settings.

Efficacy and safety of P-4 for the treatment of periodontal defects in dogs.

Objectives: This study's aim was to investigate the safety and performance of a self-assembling peptide matrix (SAPM) P-4 for the treatment of periodontal disease in a controlled pre-clinical study.

Materials And Methods: Acute buccal bony dehiscence defects (LxW: 5 × 3 mm) were surgically created on the distal root of four teeth on one mandible side of 7 beagle dogs followed by another identical surgery 8 weeks later on the contralateral side. SAPM P-4 (with and without root conditioning with 24% EDTA (T1, T2)), Emdogain® (C) and a sham intervention (S) were randomly applied on the four defects at each time point.

IDF Diabetes Atlas: Global, regional and country-level diabetes prevalence estimates for 2021 and projections for 2045.

Aims: To provide global, regional, and country-level estimates of diabetes prevalence and health expenditures for 2021 and projections for 2045.

Methods: A total of 219 data sources meeting pre-established quality criteria reporting research conducted between 2005 and 2020 and representing 215 countries and territories were identified. For countries without data meeting quality criteria, estimates were extrapolated from countries with similar economies, ethnicity, geography and language.

Cost-utility analysis of risk-reducing strategies to prevent breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA-mutation carriers in Switzerland.

Objective: We aimed to identify the most cost-effective of all prophylactic measures available in Switzerland for women not yet affected by breast and ovarian cancer who tested positive for a BRCA1/2 mutation.

Methods: Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (PBM), salpingo-oophorectomy (PBSO), combined PBM&PBSO and chemoprevention (CP) initiated at age 40 years were compared with intensified surveillance (IS). A Markov model with a life-long time horizon was developed from the perspective of the Swiss healthcare system using mainly literature-derived data to evaluate costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and survival.

Correlates of HIV seropositivity in young West and Central African women: A pooled analysis of 17 Demographic and Health Surveys.

Background: Young women in West and Central Africa have been described by the United Nations as being especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Despite a consensus that increased efforts are necessary to address the needs of this particular demographic, correlates of HIV seropositivity in young West and Central African women have not been systematically described. This study fills this gap using a rich set of publicly available survey data.

Efficacy of P-4 for the treatment of initial buccal caries: a randomized clinical trial.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of Self-Assembling Peptide P-4 (SAP P-4) compared to placebo or fluoride varnish (FV), a randomized, controlled, blinded, split-mouth study with sequential design was conducted. Subjects presenting two teeth with White-Spot-Lesions (WSLs) were included and teeth were randomly assigned to test or control. Control received placebo at baseline (D0) and test SAP P-4, all received FV at Day 90 (D90).

The effect of routine probiotics supplementation on preterm newborn health: a regression discontinuity analysis.

Background: Despite ongoing debate about the health impact of probiotics, rigorous evidence assessing the use of probiotics in routine preterm newborn care is lacking.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the causal effect of routine probiotics supplementation on moderately preterm newborns' anthropometric development (weight-for-age and height-for-age z scores) and risk of late-onset sepsis.

Methods: This study used a regression discontinuity analysis based on hospital guidelines that recommended routine probiotics supplementation for neonates born before 34 completed weeks of gestation.

Randomized Clinical Trial investigating Self-Assembling Peptide P-4 for Treatment of Early Occlusal Caries.

Non-invasive caries treatment is a major focus in modern dentistry. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of monomeric self-assembling peptide P-4 (SAP P-4) in combination with fluoride varnish or polymeric self-assembling peptide matrix (SAPM) in treatment of non-cavitated occlusal caries. Ninety children and adolescents were included in this randomized, gold-standard-controlled clinical trial.

Global and regional estimates and projections of diabetes-related health expenditure: Results from the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition.

Aims: Diabetes and its complications have a significant economic impact on individuals and their families, health systems and national economies.

Methods: The direct health expenditure of diabetes was calculated relying on the following inputs: diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes prevalence estimates, United Nations population estimates, World Health Organization health expenditure per capita and ratios of health expenditure for people with diabetes compared to people without diabetes.

Results: The estimated global direct health expenditure on diabetes in 2019 is USD 760 billion and is expected to grow to a projected USD 825 billion by 2030 and USD 845 billion by 2045.

Randomised clinical trial investigating self-assembling peptide P-4 in the treatment of early caries.

Objectives: This prospective, randomised, split-mouth, clinical trial compared the efficacy of the self-assembling peptide P-4 to fluoride varnish in the treatment of early buccal carious lesions.

Materials And Methods: Subjects presenting at least two clinically affected teeth were treated at D0 (day 0) and D90 with P-4 (test) or fluoride varnish (control). At D180, fluoride varnish was applied on all study lesions.

How socioeconomic status moderates the stunting-age relationship in low-income and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Reducing stunting is an important part of the global health agenda. Despite likely changes in risk factors as children age, determinants of stunting are typically analysed without taking into account age-related heterogeneity. We aim to fill this gap by providing an in-depth analysis of the role of socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator for the stunting-age pattern.

Hydroxyapatite and Self-Assembling Peptide Matrix for Non-Oxidizing Tooth Whitening.

Objectives: The aim of this combined in vitro and in vivo study was to evaluate the efficacy of tooth whitening using a mixture of Self- Assembling Peptide Matrix (SAPM) and hydroxyapatite (HA).

Methods: The mixture was applied on stained bovine teeth, and the tooth color was measured using a spectrophotometer; mean changes in L*a*b values between measurements were expressed as DE. Additionally, the nature of the surface layer was investigated by ATRFTIR and EDX.

Self-assembling peptide matrix for treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Patient-reported dentin hypersensitivity [DHS] pain is a common finding linked with periodontal disease. This pilot clinical study investigates a novel therapeutic regimen using self-assembling peptide matrix [SAPM] gel (test) compared with use of an 8% arginine and calcium carbonate [ACC] toothpaste (control) for treatment of DHS.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with history of supportive periodontal therapy were enrolled in this prospective, randomized monocentric clinical study, of which 45 (test: n = 22; control: n = 23) fulfilled all the study visits.

Global Economic Burden of Diabetes in Adults: Projections From 2015 to 2030.

Objective: Despite the importance of diabetes for global health, the future economic consequences of the disease remain opaque. We forecast the full global costs of diabetes in adults through the year 2030 and predict the economic consequences of diabetes if global targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and World Health Organization Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2020 are met.

Research Design And Methods: We modeled the absolute and gross domestic product (GDP)-relative economic burden of diabetes in individuals aged 20-79 years using epidemiological and demographic data, as well as recent GDP forecasts for 180 countries.

Pre-simulation orientation for medical trainees: An approach to decrease anxiety and improve confidence and performance.

Background: We assessed the effect of basic orientation to the simulation environment on anxiety, confidence, and clinical decision making.

Methods: Twenty-four graduating medical students participated in a two-week surgery preparatory curriculum, including three simulations. Baseline anxiety was assessed pre-course.

The global economic burden of diabetes in adults aged 20-79 years: a cost-of-illness study.

Background: Differences in methods and data used in past studies have limited comparisons of the cost of illness of diabetes across countries. We estimate the full global economic burden of diabetes in adults aged 20-79 years in 2015, using a unified framework across all countries. Our objective was to highlight patterns of diabetes-associated costs as well as to identify the need for further research in low-income regions.