Smoking Prevention and Cessation Programs for Children and Adolescents Focusing on Parental Involvement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aims to determine the effect and equity outcomes of smoking prevention or smoking cessation interventions for children and adolescents involving parents. A systematic literature search was conducted between 24 November 2022 and 27 November 2023 in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register, and the WHO international clinical trials registry.

Evaluating predictive values of umbilical cord arterial lactate for adverse newborn outcomes among term-births in northern Uganda: A cross sectional analytical study.

Objective: Birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of death for neonates worldwide. Lack of an objective cost effective test to predict poor newborn outcomes at birth affects the ability to respond appropriately. This study determined predictive values of umbilical cord arterial lactate in relation to adverse neonatal outcomes.

The association between tobacco use and COVID-19 diagnoses in three Nordic countries: a pooled analysis.

Previous research has suggested an unexpected negative association between smoking and susceptibility to COVID-19. This study, drawing on population-based data from three Nordic countries-Sweden, Norway, and Finland-aims to investigate this association further, capitalizing on diversity introduced by different containment measures. The objective of this research was to examine the association between cigarette smoking and snus (smokeless tobacco) use and the risk of confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Internal Consistency and Floor/Ceiling Effects of the Gross Motor Function Measure for Use with Children Affected by Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Children/adolescents with cancer can develop adverse effects impacting gross motor function. There is a lack of gross motor function assessment tools that have been validated for this population. The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to preliminary validate the 88-item Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) for use in children/adolescents with cancer, exploring internal consistency and floor/ceiling effect.

Human NGF "Painless" Ocular Delivery for Retinitis Pigmentosa: An In Vivo Study.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a family of genetically heterogeneous diseases still without a cure. Despite the causative genetic mutation typically not expressed in cone photoreceptors, these cells inevitably degenerate following the primary death of rods, causing blindness. The reasons for the "bystander" degeneration of cones are presently unknown but decrement of survival factors, oxidative stress, and inflammation all play a role.

Knowledge gaps related to HIV and condom use for preventing pregnancy: a cross-sectional study among migrants in Sweden.

Background: Information and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) plays a crucial role in promoting safe sexual practices among young migrants. We aimed to assess the sociodemographic factors of migrants associated with knowledge of condoms and the prevention, treatment, and transmission of HIV to highlight the need for SRHR information, including comprehensive sexual health education.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted (2018-2019) among migrants at Swedish language schools and high schools across Sweden.

Exploring the determinants of under-five mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases in Cambodia-a traditional and machine learning approach.

Cambodia has made progress in reducing the under-five mortality rate and burden of infectious diseases among children over the last decades. However the determinants of child mortality and morbidity in Cambodia is not well understood, and no recent analysis has been conducted to investigate possible determinants. We applied a multivariable logistical regression model and a conditional random forest to explore possible determinants of under-five mortality and under-five child morbidity from infectious diseases using the most recent Demographic Health Survey in 2021-2022.

Long-term prognostic value of contemporary stress echocardiography in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Long-term outcome of contemporary stress echocardiography has not been systematically assessed.

Objective: To evaluate the association between results of stress echocardiography and patients' outcomes with suspected coronary artery disease using randomised controlled trials.

Methods: Multiple electronic databases were searched for studies evaluating long-term outcome (>12 months) of stress echocardiography in patients suspected of coronary artery disease since year 2000.

The Italian Consensus Conference on the role of rehabilitation for children and adolescents with leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and bone cancer, part 2: general principles for the rehabilitation treatment of motor function impairments.

In Italy, 1400 children and 800 adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every year. About 80% of them can be cured but are at high risk of experiencing severe side effects, many of which respond to rehabilitation treatment. Due to the paucity of literature on this topic, the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology organized a Consensus Conference on the role of rehabilitation of motor impairments in children/adolescents affected by leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and bone cancer to state recommendations to improve clinical practice.

Targeting Relevant HDACs to Support the Survival of Cone Photoreceptors in Inherited Retinal Diseases: Identification of a Potent Pharmacological Tool with In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy.

Inherited retinal diseases, which include retinitis pigmentosa, are a family of genetic disorders characterized by gradual rod-cone degeneration and vision loss, without effective pharmacological treatments. Experimental approaches aim to delay disease progression, supporting cones' survival, crucial for human vision. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) mediate the activation of epigenetic and nonepigenetic pathways that modulate cone degeneration in RP mouse models.

Occurrence of major infectious diseases and healthcare seeking among young children with disabilities in Sierra Leone using cross-sectional population-based survey data.

Background: Children with disabilities are at risk of worse health outcomes compared to children without functional difficulties. Sierra Leone has one of the world's highest prevalences of functional difficulties among children, but little is known about the co-occurrence of major infectious diseases and healthcare-seeking behaviours among children with disabilities.

Methods: We used household survey cross-sectional data on children 2-4 years old and logistic regression models estimating ORs between functional difficulties and symptoms of infectious diseases including diarrhoea, fever and acute respiratory infection (ARI), adjusted for sex, age and stunting.

Validation of the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) based on four aging cohorts from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care.

Background: As global aging accelerates, routinely assessing the functional status and morbidity burden of older patients becomes paramount. The aim of this study is to assess the validity of the comprehensive clinical and functional Health Assessment Tool (HAT) based on four cohorts of older adults (60 + years) from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC) spanning urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Methods: The HAT integrates five health indicators (gait speed, global cognition, number of chronic diseases, and basic and instrumental activities of daily living), providing an individual-level score between 0 and 10.

Sex differences in the prognostic role of achieving target doses of heart failure medications: Data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry.

Aims: Guidelines recommend target doses (TD) of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) medications regardless of sex. Differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may explain heterogeneity in treatment response, adverse reactions, and tolerability issues across sexes. The aim of this study was to explore sex-based differences in the association between TD achievement and mortality/morbidity in HFrEF.

Rolling the DICE (Design, Interpret, Compute, Estimate): Interactive Learning of Biostatistics With Simulations.

Despite the increasing relevance of statistics in health sciences, teaching styles in higher education are remarkably similar across disciplines: lectures covering the theory and methods, followed by application and computer exercises in given data sets. This often leads to challenges for students in comprehending fundamental statistical concepts essential for medical research. To address these challenges, we propose an engaging learning approach-DICE (design, interpret, compute, estimate)-aimed at enhancing the learning experience of statistics in public health and epidemiology.

Prevalence and associated factors for poor mental health among young migrants in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Young migrants face multiple challenges that can affect their mental, sexual and reproductive health.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-reported poor mental health and its associated demographic, post-migration and sexual risk behaviour factors among young migrants (aged 15-25) in Sweden.

Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted with migrants aged 15-65 years old in Sweden between December 2018 and November 2019 ( = 6449).

The Association Between Tobacco Use and Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Clinical Outcomes in Sweden: A Population-Based Study.

The association between tobacco use and COVID-19 is controversial. During the early course of the pandemic, limited testing prevented studying a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. To examine the potential causal association between tobacco use and COVID-19 during the second wave (1 October 2020-30 June 2021) of the pandemic in Stockholm, Sweden.

A probabilistic bias analysis on the magnitude of unmeasured confounding: The impact of driving mileage on road traffic crashes.

Introduction: Unmeasured confounding can lead to biased interpretations of empirical findings. This paper aimed to assess the magnitude of suspected unmeasured confounding due to driving mileage and simulate the statistical power required to detect a discrepancy in the effect of polypharmacy on road traffic crashes (RTCs) among older adults.

Methods: Based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) approach, we estimated 1) the magnitude of confounding of driving mileage on the association of polypharmacy and RTCs and 2) the statistical power of to detect a discrepancy from no adjusted effect.

Does misclassification of former tobacco smokers explain the 'smoker's paradox' in the risk of COVID-19? Insights from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort.

Background: The association between tobacco smoking and the risk of COVID-19 and its adverse outcomes is controversial, as studies reported contrasting findings. Bias due to misclassification of the exposure in the analyses of current versus non-current smoking could be a possible explanation because former smokers may have higher background risks of the disease due to co-morbidity. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of this potential bias by separating non-, former, and current smokers when assessing the risk or prognosis of diseases.

Iron deficiency in heart failure: screening, prevalence, incidence and outcome data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry and the Stockholm CREAtinine Measurements collaborative project.

Aims: Iron deficiency (ID) is common in heart failure (HF) and linked with poor prognosis regardless of anaemia. We assessed temporal trends in ID testing, ID prevalence, ID incidence, iron need, and outcomes associated with ID in HF across the ejection fraction (EF) spectrum.

Methods And Results: From the Swedish HF registry, we enrolled 15 197 patients from Region Stockholm with available EF and collected laboratory tests from routine practice.

Diagnosing acute mastoiditis in a Pediatric Emergency Department: a retrospective review.

Background and aim Acute mastoiditis (AM) is a common complication of acute otitis media in children. There is currently no consensus on criteria for diagnosis. Head CT is the most frequent diagnostic tool used in the ED although the increasing awareness on the use of ionized radiations in children has questioned the use of CT imaging versus solely using clinical criteria.

The influence of meteorological factors on COVID-19 spread in Italy during the first and second wave.

The relation between meteorological factors and COVID-19 spread remains uncertain, particularly with regard to the role of temperature, relative humidity and solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To assess this relation, we investigated disease spread within Italy during 2020. The pandemic had a large and early impact in Italy, and during 2020 the effects of vaccination and viral variants had not yet complicated the dynamics.