Helicobacter pylori, persistent infection burden and structural brain imaging markers

Persistent infections, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic, including Helicobacter pylori infection, have been implicated in non-communicable diseases, including dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this cross-sectional study, data on 635 cognitively normal participants from the UK Biobank study (2006–21, age range: 40–70 years) were used to examine whether H. pylori seropositivity (e.g. presence of antibodies), serointensities of five H. pylori antigens and a measure of total persistent infection burden were associated with selected brain volumetric structural MRI (total, white, grey matter, frontal grey matter (left/right), white matter hyperintensity as percent intracranial volume and bi-lateral sub-cortical volumes) and diffusion-weighted MRI measures (global and tract-specific bi-lateral fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity), after an average 9–10 years of lag time. Persistent infection burden was calculated as a cumulative score of seropositivity for over 20 different pathogens. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses were conducted, whereby selected potential confounders (all measures) and intracranial volume (sub-cortical volumes) were adjusted, with stratification by Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk score tertile when exposures were H. pylori antigen serointensities. Type I error was adjusted to 0.007. We report little evidence of an association between H. pylori seropositivity and persistent infection burden with various volumetric outcomes (P > 0.007, from multivariable regression models), unlike previously reported in past research. However, H. pylori antigen serointensities, particularly immunoglobulin G against the vacuolating cytotoxin A, GroEL and outer membrane protein antigens, were associated with poorer tract-specific white matter integrity (P < 0.007), with outer membrane protein serointensity linked to worse outcomes in cognition-related tracts such as the external capsule, the anterior limb of the internal capsule and the cingulum, specifically at low Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk. Vacuolating cytotoxin A serointensity was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity volume among individuals with mid-level Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk, while among individuals with the highest Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk, the urease serointensity was consistently associated with reduced bi-lateral caudate volumes and the vacuolating cytotoxin A serointensity was linked to reduced right putamen volume (P < 0.007). Outer membrane protein and urease were associated with larger sub-cortical volumes (e.g. left putamen and right nucleus accumbens) at middle Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk levels (P < 0.007). Our results shed light on the relationship between H. pylori seropositivity, H. pylori antigen levels and persistent infection burden with brain volumetric structural measures. These data are important given the links between infectious agents and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, and can be used for the development of drugs and preventive interventions that would reduce the burden of those diseases

Stroke in the Arab World: A bibliometric analysis of research activity (2002–2016)

Background: The Arab world has an increasing prevalence of strokes, a leading cause of death in this part of the world. Aims: The aim of this article is to quantify the stroke research activity in the Arab countries over the past 15 years taking into consideration the population, GDP, and DALY of each country. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted to find stroke research articles published from the Arab countries between 2002 and 2016 (inclusive). Medical subject headings related to strokes and author origin/affiliation were used for this purpose. Results: The Arab world only produced 0.51% of all the stroke-related publications on PubMed even though the stroke-related DALY percentage in this region was greater than 2.88% during the period we studied. In general, the number of publications increased in the last few years. Somalia came first regarding the percentage of stroke to non-stroke publications released. Lebanon had the highest number of publications per GDP (in US Billion Dollars), Qatar had the highest number of publications per million persons (PPMP), while Saudi Arabia had the highest number of publications per 1% of stroke DALY. In addition, a strong positive correlation was found between the number of stroke publications and GDP; however, the correlation between the number of stroke publication and either population size or DALY was a weak positive one. Conclusions: A general increase in publications is noticed, but stroke research activity in the Arab world is still poor compared to other parts of the world. Keywords: Stroke, Bibliometric, Arab world, Population, GDP, DAL

A cross-sectional survey on community pharmacists readiness to fight COVID-19 in a developing country: knowledge, attitude, and practice in Lebanon

Abstract Background Lebanon, a developing Middle Eastern country, was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred amid a severe national economic crisis. Community pharmacists are responsible for dispensing appropriate medications and products in addition to counseling, informing and educating the public, and promoting disease prevention and infection control. Objective This study aimed to assess community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate behavior changes and safety measures. Methods An anonymous and standardized online questionnaire in English was disseminated via social media platforms to Lebanese community pharmacists. The questionnaire consisted of 95 items designed as Likert-scales and multiple-choice questions divided into four different sections: socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge-based, attitude-based, and pharmacy practice questions. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to summarize the demographic characteristics, and indices were created for knowledge, attitude, and practice by computing the correct answers for each section. Results A total of 310 questionnaires were completed. Around 61% have expressed their fear of getting infected with COVID-19 due to occupational exposure. The respondents were able to answer 80–90% of the knowledge-based questions of the survey. A more careful/anxious attitude, but not knowledge, was associated with overall better practice (p = 0.03). Also, respondents stated that they are dispensing protective equipment items such as masks (87%), gloves (60%), and sanitizers (77%) in small quantities due to limited availability. Conclusion Our findings revealed an adequate level of knowledge and good practice towards COVID-19 among Lebanese community pharmacists. Their fears of contracting the virus and compromising the safety of those around them are justified. However, their supply of protective equipment is limited

Pathways explaining racial/ethnic disparities in incident all‐cause and Alzheimer's disease dementia among older US men and women

Abstract Introduction Racial disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and all‐cause dementia (DEMENTIA) incidence may exist differentially among men and women, with unknown mechanisms. Methods A retrospective cohort study examining all‐cause and AD dementia incidence was conducted linking Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare data over ≤26 years of follow‐up (1988 to 2014). Cox regression and generalized structural equation models (GSEMs) were constructed among men and women ≥60 years of age at baseline (N = 4592). Outcomes included onset ages of all‐cause and AD dementia, whereas the main exposures were race/ethnicity contrasts (RACE_ETHN). Potential mediators) included socio‐economic status (SES), lifestyle factors (dietary quality [DIET] nutritional biomarkers [NUTR], physical activity [PA], social support [SS], alcohol [ALCOHOL], poor health [or HEALTH], poor cognitive performance [or COGN]. In addition to RACE_ETHN, the following were exogenous covariates in the GSEM and potential confounders in Cox models: age, sex, urban‐rural, household size, and marital status. Results Non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) women had a higher risk of DEMENTIA versus non‐Hispanic White (NHW) women in GSEM, consistent with Cox models (age‐adjusted model: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10 to 1.61). The total effect of this RACE_ETHN contrast in women was explained by four main pathways: (1) RACE_ETHN→ poor cognitive performance (COGN, +) → DEMENTIA (+); (2) RACE_ETHN → SES (−) → COGN (−) → DEMENTIA (+); (3) RACE_ETHN → SES (−) → physical activity (PA, +) → COGN (−) → DEMENTIA (+); and (4) RACE_ETHN → SES (−) → DIET (+) → COGN (−) → DEMENTIA (+). A reduced AD risk in Mexican American (MA) women versus NHW women upon adjustment for SES and downstream factors (HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.80). For the non‐White versus NHW contrast in incident DEMENTIA, pathways involved lower SES, directly increasing cognitive deficits (or indirectly through lifestyle factors), which then directly increases DEMENTIA . Discussion Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors explaining disparities between NHB and NHW in dementia onset among women are important to consider for future observational and intervention studies

Vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: ·To determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children. ·To determine if any effect of vitamin D supplementation varies by sex, age or pubertal stage, the type or dose of vitamin D given or baseline vitamin D status. ·To determine if any effect of vitamin D supplementation persists after cessation of the intervention

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair

Importance Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.Objective To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.Design, Setting, and Participants The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) study, an international, prospective cohort study, recruited participants between March 1 and October 31, 2021. This study was conducted across 209 centers in 32 countries in a consecutive sample of adult patients undergoing elective IHR.Exposure Open or minimally invasive IHR by any surgical technique, under local, neuraxial regional, or general anesthesia.Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the incidence of POUR following elective IHR. Secondary outcomes were perioperative risk factors, management, clinical consequences, and health service outcomes of POUR. A preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score was measured in male patients.Results In total, 4151 patients (3882 male and 269 female; median [IQR] age, 56 [43-68] years) were studied. Inguinal hernia repair was commenced via an open surgical approach in 82.2% of patients (n = 3414) and minimally invasive surgery in 17.8% (n = 737). The primary form of anesthesia was general in 40.9% of patients (n = 1696), neuraxial regional in 45.8% (n = 1902), and local in 10.7% (n = 446). Postoperative urinary retention occurred in 5.8% of male patients (n = 224), 2.97% of female patients (n = 8), and 9.5% (119 of 1252) of male patients aged 65 years or older. Risk factors for POUR after adjusted analyses included increasing age, anticholinergic medication, history of urinary retention, constipation, out-of-hours surgery, involvement of urinary bladder within the hernia, temporary intraoperative urethral catheterization, and increasing operative duration. Postoperative urinary retention was the primary reason for 27.8% of unplanned day-case surgery admissions (n = 74) and 51.8% of 30-day readmissions (n = 72).Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggest that 1 in 17 male patients, 1 in 11 male patients aged 65 years or older, and 1 in 34 female patients may develop POUR following IHR. These findings could inform preoperative patient counseling. In addition, awareness of modifiable risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk of POUR who may benefit from perioperative risk mitigation strategies