Knowledge of Type II Diabetic Patients About Their Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Knowledge is the critical component to counter the harmful side-effects of chronic diseases. Diabetic patients can manage their disease based on their diabetes knowledge and following good self-care behavior. Various studies about patients' knowledge of diabetes show different results. The purpose of this study is to estimate the overall knowledge score of Iranian patients about diabetes. Methods: In the current study, ten papers published by September 2018 were identified without time limitation. A literature search for the papers was conducted using the keywords: Iran, diabetes, knowledge, and their combinations. The necessary data were extracted and analyzed through meta-analysis using the random-effects model. The I2 statistic was used to measure the heterogeneity among the studies. The data were analyzed using Stata software (Version 11). Results: The pooled estimate of the knowledge score of type II diabetes patients about their diabetes was 64% (95% CI: 52%-76%). According to the meta-regression results, there was no relationship between the knowledge score with age (P = 0.487), duration of disease (P = 0.406), and the sample size (P = 0.146). The patients' knowledge score had experienced an uptrend between 2004 and 2017, the years at which the oldest and the most recent articles were published (P = 0.06). Conclusions: Iranian patients' knowledge about their diabetes was at an average level. Education, along with medication, can significantly reduce short and long-term complications of diabetes

Estimating the Population Standard Deviation with Confidence Interval: A Simulation Study under Skewed and Symmetric Conditions

This paper investigates the performance of ten methods for constructing a confidence interval estimator for the population standard deviation by a simulation study. Since a theoretical comparison among the interval estimators is not possible, a simulation study has been conducted to compare the performance of the selected interval estimators. Data were randomly generated from several distributions with a range of sample sizes. Various evaluation criterions are considered for performance comparison. Two health related data have been analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed confidence intervals. Based on simulation results, some intervals with the best performance have been recommended for practitioners

Exposures in the indoor environment and prevalence of allergic conditions in the United States of America

Our study examines the association of the presence of mildew, cockroaches, and pets in homes as well as household dust allergens with the prevalence and/or severity of allergic diseases. No study has concurrently assessed home environment exposures in relation to allergic conditions in the general US population. Data from 5409 participants from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) living in their current homes for ≥one year were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses between home exposures and allergic diseases prevalence and severity were performed. In adjusted analyses, mildew was associated with higher current asthma, allergies, and allergic rhinitis prevalence; endotoxin, with higher current asthma prevalence; and dust Canis familiaris (Can f) 1, with higher allergic rhinitis prevalence. However, presence of cockroaches and dust Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) 1 were associated, respectively, with lower current asthma and allergies prevalence. Presence of mildew, dust Der f1, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1, Felis domesticus (Fel d) 1, and endotoxin were all associated with asthma and/or wheeze severity. Non-atopic asthma was more frequent with mildew and/or musty smell dust and higher dust Fel d1 concentration, while atopic asthma was more prevalent with higher Can f1 and endotoxin concentrations in dust. This study confirms previous relationships and reports novel associations, generating hypotheses for future research

Predictors of Acne Vulgaris Among Adolescents in Kuwait

Objectives: The prevalence of acne vulgaris (AV) among adolescents in Kuwait has remained mostly unknown. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of AV and its predictors among adolescents in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 participants who were randomly selected from public schools using multistage cluster random sampling. The presence or absence of AV, as well as severity of AV, were assessed using the Global Acne Grading Scale. Data on risk factors and potential confounders were collected from the parents through a self-administered questionnaire, and from the adolescents by face-to-face interview. Weight and height were measured in a standardized manner. Results: Of 714 participants, 320 (44.8%; 95% CI 41.1–48.6%) self-reported AV. By clinical examination, AV was found among 479 (67.1%; 95% CI 63.5–70.5%) participants. Factors that were found to be significantly associated with AV in multivariable analysis were age, gender, nationality, and BMI categories. Females compared to males (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] 1.16 [95% CI 1.05–1.25]; p = 0.006) and overweight or obese adolescents compared to normal weight (APR 1.15 [95% CI 1.02–1.26] and 1.14 [95% CI 1.02–1.23], respectively; p = 0.026) were more likely to have AV. None of the food items studied showed an association with AV in multivariable analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported AV seems to be lower than that reported in other settings, while the prevalence of AV by clinical examination resembles that reported in many other countries. BMI was the only modifiable risk factor associated with AV in multivariable analysis, and none of the food items studied was related to the presence or absence of AV in multivariable analysis

Vitamin D Level in Relation to Depression Symptoms During Adolescence

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and depression symptoms among adolescents in Kuwait, a country with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 704 adolescents in middle schools. Data on depression symptoms were collected using the Children\u27s Depression Inventory (CDI). Data on covariates were collected from the parents by self-administered questionnaire and from adolescents by face-to-face interview. Blood samples were analyzed in an accredited laboratory; and 25(OH)D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Of 704 adolescents, 94 (13.35%; 95%CI:10.35-17.06%) had depression symptom (a score of 19 or more on the CDI). There was no significant difference in the median CDI score between different vitamin D status (p = 0.366). There was also no significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D concentration and CDI score (Spearman\u27s rank correlation = 0.01; p = 0.825).There was no significant association between 25(OH)D and depression symptoms whether 25(OH)D was fitted as a continuous variable (crude odds ratio (OR) 0 .99 [95%CI: 0.98, 1.01], p = 0.458 and adjusted OR 1.01 [95%CI: 0.99, 1.02], p = 0.233), categorical variable as per acceptable cut-of points (crude analysis p = 0.376 and adjusted analysis p = 0.736), or categorical variable as quartiles (crude analysis p = 0.760 and adjusted analysis p = 0.549). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D status does not seem to be associated with depression symptoms among adolescents in our setting. Nevertheless, it is important to have sufficient vitamin D levels during adolescence for several other health benefits

Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Long-Term Risk for Death, United States

To examine the association of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and general population mortality, we followed 10,598 adults for 8.5 years on average. Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus colonization was not associated with death. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus carriage predicted death in a crude analysis but not after adjustment for socioeconomic status and co-morbidities

Association of HPV genotypes with external anogenital warts: a cross sectional study

Abstract Background This study was undertaken to determine the distribution of type-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) in external anogenital warts, and the correlation with clinical presentation of warts and demographic data of patients. Methods Genital warts specimens were obtained from 129 men and 27 women attending a dermatology clinic, who had been advised surgical excision. The tissues were fixed and screened for HPV DNA by using real-time PCR. HPV genotype was determined by PCR-based sequencing. Results Sixteen different HPV genotypes were detected, comprising 4 oncogenic HPV genotypes (16, 18, 33, 38), 2 low-risk HPV types (LR) (6, 81), HPV 9, and other types associated with common warts (1a, 2, 4, 7, 27b, 27, 57b, 57c, 65). Oncogenic HPV types were found in 34.62% of patients, LR HPV types in 14.4%, HPV 9 in 0.64%, and common warts type in 50.6%. The prevalence of HPV infection with a single type was 88.4, 9.0% for two types, and 2.6% for three types. Multiple logistic regression model showed that age, gender, nationality, number of warts, size of each wart, and positive history of wart in sexual partner, were not predictors of HPV type. However, patients with anogenital warts of one to six months duration were three times more likely to have oncogenic HPV infection compared to those with less than one month. Conclusions This study shows that oncogenic HPV types are detected in around 35% of patients with genital warts, and are prevalent in warts of one to six months duration