Effect of aneurysm size on procedure-related rupture in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with coil occlusion

Objective: Procedure-related rupture is one of the most feared complications in treating patients with cerebral aneurysm. The primary aim of this study was to estimate the effect of aneurysm size on procedure-related rupture. We also estimated its effect on peri-procedural thromboembolic events. Methods: This observational study was conducted using routinely-collected health data on patients admitted for subarachnoid hemorrhage and treated with aneurysm coil occlusion in the CHU de Québec — Enfant-Jésus hospital from January 1st, 2000 until sample size was reached. Patients were identified from the Discharge Abstract Database using the Canadian Classification of Health codes. Assessment of complications was blind to aneurysm size. Logistic regression models were performed to test associations between aneurysm size and procedure-related rupture or peri-procedural thromboembolic events, and between both procedure-related rupture and thromboembolic events and patients' outcomes. Results: This study included 532 aneurysms treated with coil occlusion in 505 patients. Procedure-related rupture occurred in 34 patients (6.7%) and thromboembolic events in 53 (10.5%) patients. Aneurysms of 2 to 3 mm inclusively were not more significantly associated with procedure-related rupture or thromboembolic events than those larger than 3 mm (OR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.9–1.16, p = 0.78 and OR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.96–1.17, p = 0.3, respectively). However, procedure-related rupture had a significant effect on patient mortality (OR 3.86, 95% CI: 1.42–10.53, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Very small aneurysm size should not preclude aneurysm coil occlusion. Every measure should be taken to prevent procedure-related rupture as it is strongly associated with higher mortality

Trajectories of self-rated health in people with diabetes: Associations with functioning in a prospective community sample

© 2013 Schmitz et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background: Self-rated health (SRH) is a single-item measure that is one of the most widely used measures of general health in population health research. Relatively little is known about changes and the trajectories of SRH in people with chronic medical conditions. The aims of the present study were to identify and describe longitudinal trajectories of self-rated health (SRH) status in people with diabetes. Methods: A prospective community study was carried out between 2008 and 2011. SRH was assessed at baseline and yearly at follow-ups (n=1288). Analysis was carried out through trajectory modeling. The trajectory groups were subsequently compared at 4 years follow-up with respect to functioning. Results: Four distinct trajectories of SRH were identified: 1) 72.2% of the participants were assigned to a persistently good SRH trajectory; 2) 10.1% were assigned to a persistently poor SRH trajectory; 3) mean SRH scores changed from good to poor for one group (7.3%); while 4) mean SRH scores changed from poor to medium/good for another group (10.4%). Those with a persistently poor perception of health status were at higher risk for poor functioning at 4 years follow-up than those whose SRH scores decreased from good to poor. Conclusions: SRH is an important predictor for poor functioning in diabetes, but the trajectory of SRH seems to be even more important. Health professionals should pay attention to not only SRH per se, but also changes in SRH over time.This work was supported by Operating Grant MOP-84574 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). GG was supported by a doctoral fellowship from the CIHR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Adolescent use of social media and associations with sleep patterns across 18 European and North American countries

Objective: Over the past decade, concurrent with increasing social media use (SMU), there has been a shift toward poorer sleep among adolescents in many countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-national associations between adolescent SMU and sleep patterns, by comparing 4 different categories of SMU (nonactive, active, intense, and problematic use). Design, setting, and participants: Data were from 86,542 adolescents in 18 European and North American countries that participated in the 2017/18 Health Behaviour in School-aged study. Measurements: Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to examine cross-national associations between 4 SMU categories and adolescent sleep duration, bedtime and social jetlag derived from self-reported data. Results: For all countries combined, nonactive SMU was associated with longer sleep, earlier bedtimes, and less social jetlag, compared to active SMU, although the differences were minor. By comparison, intense and problematic SMU were associated with less sleep and later bedtimes on both school and nonschool days, and greater social jetlag, compared to active SMU. While findings were relatively consistent between countries, some differences were observed, suggesting that the national and cultural context may be important in interpreting results. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both intense and problematic SMU are associated with poorer sleep patterns in adolescents across most countries. Further research is needed to identify effective policies, programs, and messaging to promote the healthy use of social media and prevent potential negative impacts on adolescent sleep

Direct measurement of large-scale quantum states via expectation values of non-Hermitian matrices

In quantum mechanics, predictions are made by way of calculating expectation values of observables, which take the form of Hermitian operators. Non-Hermitian operators, however, are not necessarily devoid of physical significance, and they can play a crucial role in the characterization of quantum states. Here we show that the expectation values of a particular set of non-Hermitian matrices, which we call column operators, directly yield the complex coefficients of a quantum state vector. We provide a definition of the state vector in terms of measurable quantities by decomposing these column operators into observables. The technique we propose renders very-large-scale quantum states significantly more accessible in the laboratory, as we demonstrate by experimentally characterizing a 100,000-dimensional entangled state. This represents an improvement of two orders of magnitude with respect to previous phase-and-amplitude characterizations of discrete entangled states

SPAD Cameras for Biomedical Imaging: Promise and Problems

We experiment with single-photon avalanche diode array cameras for biomedical imaging through thick samples. The drawbacks and potentials are discussed for this application. Early results show successful imaging through hand and 10cm tissue phantom

The mental health of young people who are not in education, employment, or training: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: There are increasing concerns about the intersection between NEET (not in education, employment, or training) status and youth mental ill-health and substance use. However, findings are inconsistent and differ across types of problems. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO-CRD42018087446) on the association between NEET status and youth mental health and substance use problems. METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, ERIC, PsycINFO, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (1999-2020). Two reviewers extracted data and appraised study quality using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We ran robust variance estimation random-effects models for associations between NEET and aggregate groups of mental ill-health and substance use measures; conventional random-effects models for associations with individual mental/substance use problems; and subgroup analyses to explore heterogeneity. RESULTS: We identified 24 studies from 6,120 references. NEET status was associated with aggregate groups of mental ill-health, substance use problems, and combined mental ill-health and substance use measures. Each disaggregated measure was associated with NEET status [mood, anxiety, behaviour problems, alcohol use, cannabis use, drug use, suicidality; and psychological distress]. Longitudinal data indicated that aggregate measures of mental health problems and of mental health and substance use problems (combined) predicted being NEET later, while evidence for the inverse relationship was equivocal and sparse. CONCLUSION: Our review provides evidence for meaningful, significant associations between youth mental health and substance use problems and being NEET. We, therefore, advocate for mental ill-health prevention and early intervention and integrating vocational supports in youth mental healthcare

Isolement social, solitude et santé mentale positive chez les aînés au Canada pendant la pandémie de COVID-19

IntroductionL’isolement social et la solitude sont associés à une moins bonne santé mentale chez les aînés. Toutefois, on en sait moins sur la façon dont ces expériences sont associées de manière indépendante à une santé mentale positive pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. MéthodologieNous avons analysé les données des cycles de 2020 et de 2021 de l’Enquête sur la COVID-19 et la santé mentale pour être en mesure d’estimer le degré d’isolement social (le fait de vivre seul), la solitude et divers indicateurs d’une santé mentale positive (bonne santé mentale autoévaluée, fort sentiment d’appartenance à la communauté locale et satisfaction moyenne à l’égard de la vie) chez les aînés en général (65 ans ou plus) et en fonction de divers groupes sociodémographiques. Nous avons également effectué des régressions logistiques et linéaires pour analyser séparément et conjointement la façon dont l’isolement social et la solitude sont associés à une santé mentale positive. RésultatsPrès de 3 aînés sur 10 ont déclaré vivre seuls, et plus du tiers ont déclaré éprouver un sentiment de solitude en raison de la pandémie. Analysés séparément, le fait de vivre seul et le sentiment de solitude ont été associés à une santé mentale positive plus faible. Dans l’analyse conjointe, le sentiment de solitude est demeuré un important facteur indépendant associé aux trois indicateurs de santé mentale positive (globalement et dans tous les groupes sociodémographiques), mais le fait de vivre seul ne s’est révélé un facteur important que dans le cas d’un fort sentiment d’appartenance à la communauté locale dans la population globale, pour les hommes et pour les 65 à 74 ans. ConclusionDe manière générale, l’isolement social et la solitude ont été associés à un bien-être inférieur chez les aînés au Canada pendant la pandémie. La solitude est demeurée un facteur important associé à tous les indicateurs de santé mentale positive après ajustement pour l’isolement social, mais non l’inverse. Ces résultats montrent qu’il faut repérer et soutenir adéquatement les aînés qui souffrent de solitude pendant (et après) une pandémie

Social isolation, loneliness and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionSocial isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer mental health among older adults. However, less is known about how these experiences are independently associated with positive mental health (PMH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2020 and 2021 cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health to provide estimates of social isolation (i.e. living alone), loneliness and PMH outcomes (i.e. high self-rated mental health, high community belonging, mean life satisfaction) in the overall older adult population (i.e. 65+ years) and across sociodemographic groups. We also conducted logistic and linear regressions to separately and simultaneously examine how social isolation and loneliness are associated with PMH. ResultsNearly 3 in 10 older adults reported living alone, and over a third reported feelings of loneliness due to the pandemic. When examined separately, living alone and loneliness were each associated with lower PMH. When assessed simultaneously, loneliness remained a significant independent factor associated with all three PMH outcomes (overall and across all sociodemographic groups), but living alone was only a significant factor for high community belonging in the overall population, for males and for those aged 65 to 74 years. ConclusionOverall, social isolation and loneliness were associated with poorer wellbeing among older adults in Canada during the pandemic. Loneliness remained a significant factor related to all PMH outcomes after adjusting for social isolation, but not vice versa. The findings highlight the need to appropriately identify and support lonely older adults during (and beyond) the pandemic

Enhancing the recovery of a temporal sequence of images using joint deconvolution

Abstract In this work, we address the reconstruction of spatial patterns that are encoded in light fields associated with a series of light pulses emitted by a laser source and imaged using photon-counting cameras, with an intrinsic response significantly longer than the pulse delay. Adopting a Bayesian approach, we propose and demonstrate experimentally a novel joint temporal deconvolution algorithm taking advantage of the fact that single pulses are observed simultaneously by different pixels. Using an intensified CCD camera with a 1000-ps gate, stepped with 10-ps increments, we show the ability to resolve images that are separated by a 10-ps delay, four time better compared to standard deconvolution techniques