Validity of age estimation methods and reproducibility of bone/dental maturity indices for chronological age estimation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of validation studies

Several approaches have been developed to estimate age, an important aspect of forensics and orthodontics, using different measures and radiological examinations. Here, through meta-analysis, we determined the validity of age estimation methods and reproducibility of bone/dental maturity indices used for age estimation. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched to December 31, 2021 for human cross-sectional studies meeting pre-defined PICOS criteria that simultaneously assessed the reproducibility and validity. Meta-estimates of validity (mean error: estimated age-chronological age) and intra- and inter-observer reproducibility (Cohen's kappa, intraclass correlation coefficient) and their predictive intervals (PI) were calculated using mixed-effect models when heterogeneity was high (I-2 > 50%). The literature search identified 433 studies, and 23 met the inclusion criteria. The mean error meta-estimate (mixed effects model) was 0.08 years (95% CI - 0.12; 0.29) in males and 0.09 (95% CI - 0.12; 0.30) in females. The PI of each method spanned zero; of nine reported estimation methods, Cameriere's had the smallest (- 0.82; 0.47) and Haavikko's the largest (- 7.24; 4.57) PI. The reproducibility meta-estimate (fixed effects model) was 0.98 (95% CI 0.97; 1.00) for intra- and 0.99 (95% CI 0.98; 1.00) for inter-observer agreement. All methods were valid but with different levels of precision. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was high and homogeneous across studies

Socio economic disparities in the appropriateness of disease management of diabetes: results of AEQUITAS study

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Rethinking carbohydrate intake and time in range in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

none15The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between macronutrient intake and time in range (TIR) of 70–180 mg/dL in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A multi-center study recruited patients with T1D using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) between January 2019 and January 2020 from centers across Italy. Diet intake was recorded using three-day weighed food diaries. Nutrients were evaluated as percentages of total intake. TIR was considered at target if the percentage of readings was higher than 70%. Clinical and nutritional factors associated with TIR at target were analyzed using multiple correspondence analysis and multiple logistic regression. Data from 197 participants (53% male, median age 11.6 years, median HbA1c 55.2 mmol/mol, median TIR 60%) were analyzed. Macronutrient intake was 45.9% carbohydrates, 16.9% protein, 37.3% fat, and 13.1 g/day fiber (median values). TIR > 70% was observed in 28% of participants; their diet contained more protein (17.6%, p = 0.015) and fiber (14.4 g/day, p = 0.031) than those not at target. The probability of having a TIR > 70% was significantly higher with 40–44% consumption of carbohydrates compared with 45–50% consumption of carbohydrates and with the use of a carbohydrate counting system. Based on these results, a five percent reduction in the percentage of carbohydrate intake can help children and adolescents with T1D achieve the goal of a TIR > 70%. Both a lower and higher percentage of carbohydrate intake appears to reduce the probability of reaching the target TIR > 70%. These results require validation in other populations before being used in clinical practice.openCherubini V.; Marino M.; Marigliano M.; Maffeis C.; Zanfardino A.; Rabbone I.; Giorda S.; Schiaffini R.; Lorubbio A.; Rollato S.; Iannilli A.; Iafusco D.; Scaramuzza A.E.; Bowers R.; Gesuita R.Cherubini, V.; Marino, M.; Marigliano, M.; Maffeis, C.; Zanfardino, A.; Rabbone, I.; Giorda, S.; Schiaffini, R.; Lorubbio, A.; Rollato, S.; Iannilli, A.; Iafusco, D.; Scaramuzza, A. E.; Bowers, R.; Gesuita, R

Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of 1990–2003 Incidence Time Trends of Childhood Diabetes in Italy: The RIDI Study

OBJECTIVE - To investigate age-period-cohort effects on the temporal trend of type 1 diabetes in children age 0-14 years in Italian registries. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - This report is based on 5,180 incident cases in the period 1990-2003 from the Registry for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Italy (RIDI). Multilevel (random intercept) Poisson regression models were used to model the effects of sex, age, calendar time, and birth cohorts on temporal trends, taking into account the registry-level variance component. RESULTS - The incidence rate was 12.26 per 100,000 personyears and significantly higher in boys (13.13 [95% CI 12.66-13.62]) than in girls (11.35 [10.90-11.82]). Large geographical variations in incidence within Italy were evident; incidence was highest in Sardinia, intermediate in Central-Southern Italy, and high in Northern Italy, particularly in the Trento Province, where the incidence rate was 18.67 per 100,000 person-years. An increasing temporal trend was evident (2.94% per year [95% CI 2.22-3.67]). With respect to the calendar period 1990-1992, the incidence rates increased linearly by 15, 27, 35, and 40% in the following time periods (P for trend < 0.001). With respect to the 1987-1993 birth cohort, the incidence rate ratio increased approximately linearly from 0.63 (95% CI 0.54-0.73) in the 1975-1981 cohort to 1.38 (1.06-1.80) in the 1999-2003 cohort. The best model, however, included sex, age, and a linear time trend (drift). CONCLUSIONS - Large geographical variations and an increasing temporal trend in diabetes incidence are evident among type 1 diabetic children in Italy. Age-period-cohort analysis shows that the variation over time has a linear component that cannot be ascribed to either the calendar period or the birth cohort

Corrigendum: The silent epidemic of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents in italy during the covid-19 pandemic in 2020(Front. Endocrinol., (2022), 13, (878634), 10.3389/fendo.2022.878634)

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Temporal trends in diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of paediatric type 1 diabetes between 2006 and 2016: results from 13 countries in three continents

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this work was to evaluate geographical variability and trends in the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), between 2006 and 2016, at the diagnosis of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes in 13 countries over three continents. Methods An international retrospective study on DKA at diagnosis of diabetes was conducted. Data on age, sex, date of diabetes diagnosis, ethnic minority status and presence of DKA at diabetes onset were obtained from Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, USA and the UK (Wales). Mean prevalence was estimated for the entire period, both overall and by country, adjusted for sex and age group. Temporal trends in annual prevalence of DKA were estimated using logistic regression analysis for each country, before and after adjustment for sex, age group and ethnic minority status. Results During the study period, new-onset type 1 diabetes was diagnosed in 59,000 children (median age [interquartile range], 9.0 years [5.5–11.7]; male sex, 52.9%). The overall adjusted DKA prevalence was 29.9%, with the lowest prevalence in Sweden and Denmark and the highest in Luxembourg and Italy. The adjusted DKA prevalence significantly increased over time in Australia, Germany and the USA while it decreased in Italy. Preschool children, adolescents and children from ethnic minority groups were at highest risk of DKA at diabetes diagnosis in most countries. A significantly higher risk was also found for females in Denmark, Germany and Slovenia. Conclusions/interpretation DKA prevalence at type 1 diabetes diagnosis varied considerably across countries, albeit it was generally high and showed a slight increase between 2006 and 2016. Increased awareness of symptoms to prevent delay in diagnosis is warranted, especially in preschool children, adolescents and children from ethnic minority groups

Epidemiological aspects of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly population as cerebrovascular risk factor.

A large number of studies indicate that isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is an important cerebrovascular risk factor. This clinical state is very common in elderly people who are the most exposed to stroke risk. Therefore, it is important to know the real prevalence of ISH, in order to predict the possible incidence of cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population. In the Camerano study on hypertension, we have verified the prevalence of ISH in the elderly. ISH has been considered clinically when the systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was higher than 160 mmHg, and the diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) was lower than 90 mmHg. In our study population, an ISH prevalence of 11.9% was found in the elderly (above 60 years of age); whereas in the adult population (between 30 and 60 years), it amounted only to 4.5%

Sexual dimorphism in arterial hypertension: an age-related phenomenon.

Epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence is available indicating that male subjects develop hypertension with a higher probability than age-matched females. The sexual dimorphism of blood pressure (BP) has been observed both in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. In order to analyze the presence of sexual dimorphism of arterial hypertension (AH) and its relationship to the aging process - particularly to the menopause - the population screened in the Camerano Study has been examined. In addition, to evaluate sex-related differences in the AH, another sample of 3765 patients from our Hypertension Centre has also been considered. Our samples displayed a real cross-over in the prevalence of arterial hypertension, hypercolesterolemia, hyperglycemia and obesity in women versus men, after the menopausal period. In fact, in the adult group (20-54 years) the prevalence of arterial hypertension was significantly higher (P54 years), we observed a significantly higher prevalence (P<0.001) in females (46.6%) than in males (34.7%). These results suggest that the menopause and age can play a separate role in the sexual dimorphism of arterial hypertension. A significant gender-related difference in hypertensive patients was found only in hypercholesterolemia above the age of 50 years, namely, females have this disorder more frequentl

Quality of life in children with celiac disease: A paediatric cross-sectional study

Background: Few studies investigated factors influencing the quality of life of children with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet. Aims: To investigate the impact of the gluten-free diet on the psycho-physical well-being of celiac children. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we interviewed 76 celiac and 143 non-celiac children (2-18 years) by using a non-disease specific questionnaire (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Test) and we explored the impact of the diet on social life with an open-ended questionnaire. Scores were compared by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A quantile regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of celiac disease on score distribution. Results: No significant differences in quality of life were found between the two groups (total score: 84.1 (81.1-87.2) vs 81.5 (79.7-83.4), median (95% CI), patients and controls respectively, p=0.4). Treatment positively affected quality of life in children that showed "intermediate" scores in the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Test. Lowest scores were observed in children reporting a higher number of diet difficulties or co-morbidities. Conclusions: Although celiac patients showed an overall good quality of life in comparison with a control group, by using appropriate analytical methods we elicited specific factors contributing to a lower quality of life in patients, such as co-morbidities and difficulties with the diet