Real-world effectiveness and safety of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in chronic kidney disease.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown efficacy in clinical trials for slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, but real-world data in diverse populations are limited. This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of SGLT2i versus renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade in CKD patients. Data from Ramathibodi Hospital (2010-2022) were analyzed, including 6,946 adults with CKD stages 2-4, with and without diabetes, who received SGLT2i (n = 1,405) or RAAS blockade (n = 5,541) for at least three months.

Behavioral Intervention with Eye-Use Monitoring to Delay Myopia Onset and Progression in Children: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of a behavioral intervention using Eye-Use Monitoring technology to delay the onset and progression of myopia in children.

Design: A prospective, cluster-randomized, parallel-groups, examiner-masked, clinical trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100052101).

Participants: A total of 413 children from grades 2 to 4 in Shandong, China, from October 2021 to December 2023 were randomized by class into three groups: reminder & feedback (6 classes, 156 children), reminder-only (5 classes, 147 children), and control (3 classes, 110 children).

Neuropsychological test performance in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We sought to characterize the cognitive profile among individuals with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) to help guide future clinical criteria.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis included MCI-LB studies with cognitive data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (January 1990 to March 2023). MCI-LB scores were compared to controls, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) groups with random-effects models.

Formulas to estimate dietary sodium intake from spot urine lead to misleading associations with cardiovascular disease risk and mortality.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that the association of formula-estimated sodium intake from spot urine with cardiovascular disease is independent of spot urinary sodium concentration.

Methods: We included 435 336 participants in the UK Biobank whose sodium intake was estimated from spot urine using INTERSALT, Kawasaki, and Tanaka formulas. Hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and deaths were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard model adjusted for multiple covariates.

Impact of pandemic service changes on ethnic inequalities in maternal and perinatal outcomes in England: a population-based study.

Objective: In the UK and worldwide, there are substantial ethnic inequalities in maternal and perinatal care and outcomes. We aim to assess the impact of the unprecedented change in care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities in adverse maternity outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using structured electronic health record data.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among people with Middle Eastern backgrounds living in high-income countries: a systematic review.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to assess the available evidence on the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Middle Eastern (ME) populations residing in high-income countries (HICs). The review focuses on two key aspects: (1) evaluating the efficacy of interventions for improving health outcomes and (2) examining the barriers to and facilitators of the implementation and effectiveness of interventions.

Design: Systematic review.

Application of Dragonnet and Conformal Inference for Estimating Individualized Treatment Effects for Personalized Stroke Prevention: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Identifying individuals who would benefit most from preventative interventions, such as antiplatelet therapy, is critical for personalized stroke prevention. However, traditional methods for estimating treatment effects often focus on the average effect across a population and do not account for individual variations in risk and treatment response.

Validity and reproducibility of the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) against a four-day food diary in adults at risk of cardiovascular disease on the island of Ireland.

There is an increasing need for valid, rapid diet screening tools. A significant association between the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been demonstrated in the US but evidence of its use in Europe is lacking. The aim of this study was to amend the PDQS for a UK/Irish population and determine validity and reliability in those at risk of CVD.

Maternal iron deficiency assessed by serum ferritin and birth outcomes in mainland China.

Iron deficiency is prevalent among pregnant women because of the increased maternal iron requirements. Uncorrected maternal iron deficiency can lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess serum ferritin concentration and prevalence of iron deficiency among pregnant women in Jiangsu, China.

Changing patterns of general practice services during a period of public sector investment in Britain.

Introduction: Given the importance of GP care to the public's health, it is important that we understand how patterns of service use change as levels of investment change. This study investigated GP use in Britain in conjunction with use of outpatient services during a period of investment and during a period of austerity.

Method: The study used data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) that included service use, morbidity (as an indicator of need) and socio-demographic characteristics (e.

Differences in eHealth Access, Use, and Perceived Benefit Between Different Socioeconomic Groups in the Dutch Context: Secondary Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There is a growing concern that digital health care may exacerbate existing health disparities. Digital health care or eHealth encompasses the digital apps that are used in health care. Differences in access, use, and perceived benefits of digital technology among socioeconomic groups are commonly referred to as the digital divide.

Efficacy of delivery of care with Tele-continuous EEG in critically ill patients: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Tele-cRCT study) study.

Background: Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) has been recommended in critically ill patients although its efficacy for improving patients' functional status remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Tele-cEEG with Tele-routine EEG (Tele-rEEG), in terms of seizure detection rate, mortality and functional outcomes.

Methods: This study is a 3-year randomized, controlled, parallel, multicenter trial, conducted in eight regional hospitals across Thailand.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: An International Multisite Cohort Study.

Concerns have been raised that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but evidence remains conflicting. We therefore investigated if GLP1-RA use, compared with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), was associated with thyroid cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. This multisite cohort study with subsequent meta-analysis included six population-based databases from Canada (Ontario), Denmark, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Iodine Deficiency Exacerbates Thyroidal and Neurological Effects of Developmental Perchlorate Exposure in the Neonatal and Adult Rat.

Thyroid hormones (THs) require iodine for biosynthesis and play critical roles in brain development. Perchlorate is an environmental contaminant that reduces serum THs by blocking the uptake of iodine from the blood to the thyroid gland. Using a pregnant rodent model, we examined the impact of maternal exposure to perchlorate under conditions of dietary iodine deficiency (ID) on the brain and behavior of offspring.

The Impact of COVID-19 on People with a Visual Impairment in Northern Ireland: A Sensory Support View.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges for all and especially for people with a visual impairment. As a result, many healthcare services had to close or be reduced, and new rules and regulations were implemented. These rules, regulations and testing procedures were challenging for many people with a visual impairment.

Prevalence and incidence of zoonotic diseases in South Asia: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review aims to estimate the prevalence and incidence of zoonotic diseases from studies of populations from South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).

Introduction: South Asia is of notable importance in terms of the prevalence and incidence of endemic zoonoses, as well as its role as a focal point for emerging zoonotic diseases.

Inclusion Criteria: All populations residing in the 8 South Asian countries, irrespective of age/gender, will be considered.

The PROCAN-B study protocol: Early diagnosis of PROstate CANcer for Black men-a community-centred participatory approach in Scotland and the North-East of England.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and Black African-Caribbean men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as white men. These cancer inequalities need urgent tackling. Barriers to early diagnosis are complex and require complex solutions.

Epigenetic and Metabolic Landscape of Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Background: Lewy body diseases, including dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are characterized by α-synuclein accumulation, leading to dementia. Previous studies suggest distinct epigenetic and metabolomic profiles in DLB.

Objective: This study aims to identify diagnostic biomarkers by analyzing the methylome and metabolome in the Brodmann area 7 of postmortem brain tissues from DLB patients and control subjects using multiomics approaches.

Bias in machine learning applications to address non-communicable diseases at a population-level: a scoping review.

Background: Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used in population and public health to support epidemiological studies, surveillance, and evaluation. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify studies that use ML in population health, with a focus on its use in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We also examine potential algorithmic biases in model design, training, and implementation, as well as efforts to mitigate these biases.

A Qualitative Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Hepatitis B and C Programmes in Prisons.

The prevalence of viral hepatitis among people in prisons is higher than in the general population. Screening, treatment and vaccination programmes exist within prisons to reduce the incidence of hepatitis, although lower uptake has often been reported compared to similar programmes outside of prisons. We conducted a systematic review of qualitative evidence to explore the barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B and C reduction programmes in prisons from the perspectives of people in prison, custodial staff and prison healthcare staff.

Impact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people.

Mild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored.

Daily activities change is linked to acute angle closure occurrence in COVID-19 co-infected patients.

Objectives: To analyze the influence of daily activity-related factors associated with COVID-19 infection on the occurrence of acute angle closure (AAC).

Methods: A multicenter hospital-based study was conducted at 23 ophthalmic centers in 17 provincial-level regions across China to recruit patients with confirmed AAC during the post-lockdown time of COVID-19 (P-TOC) from Dec 7, 2022, to Jan 17, 2023, and three lockdown time of COVID-19 (TOC) periods, which included the TOC-2022 (Sep 7, 2022 - Dec 6, 2022), TOC-2021(Sep 7, 2021 - Jan 6, 2022) and TOC-2020 (Sep 7, 2020 - Jan 6, 2021). Patient information, including demographic, a questionnaire on daily activity changes during the AAC period, COVID-19 history, and eye examination results, was collected.

Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology (THRIFT): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of vision interventions and online banking among the elderly in Kurigram.

Introduction: Presbyopia, difficulty in seeing close-ups, affects a billion people globally. Mobile financial services (MFS) have been mandated since January 2021 for Bangladesh government social safety net payments, including old age allowance (OAA) and widow allowance (WA). We report the protocol for the Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology randomised trial assessing the impact on the use of online banking of providing presbyopic safety net beneficiaries with reading glasses, and brief smartphone and mobile banking app training.