Table_1_Perceptions of COVID-19 during and after the Omicron outbreak among healthcare personnel in Indonesia.DOCX

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic occurred in several waves with different levels of seriousness. Healthcare personnel (HCP) constituted a high-risk population for COVID-19, necessitating monitoring of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) status and level of psychological distress. This study investigated differences in the impacts of COVID-19 during and after the Omicron outbreak among HCP in Indonesia.MethodsAn online structured questionnaire survey was distributed twice in selected hospitals of Indonesia: the first survey was between December 2021 and February 2022 (Omicron era) and the second between August and October 2022 (post-Omicron era). A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine the differences in KAP and psychological distress among HCP toward COVID-19 with demographic characteristics adjusted for.ResultsThis study included 402 (Omicron era) and 584 (post-Omicron era) HCP members. Positive attitudes were more common in the Omicron era than in the post-Omicron era (p = 0.001). The availability of face shields and protective eyewear significantly decreased from 62.7 to 55.6% (p = 0.028). However, psychological distress among HCP significantly increased after the Omicron outbreak (p = 0.024). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a decrease of positive attitudes (OR = 0.626; 95% CI = 0.476–0.823) in the post-Omicron era.ConclusionOur data indicated a significant increase in psychological distress among HCP in the post-Omicron era. These findings suggest a need for greater focus on psychological distress among HCP in Indonesia.</p

Multivariate regression coefficients for log-transformed serum testosterone in relation to the nutritional status in 137 boys.

<p>Multivariate regression coefficients for log-transformed serum testosterone in relation to the nutritional status in 137 boys.</p

Clinical and biochemical data according to the nutritional status (<i>N</i> = 137).

<p>Clinical and biochemical data according to the nutritional status (<i>N</i> = 137).</p

Distributions of serum testosterone (A), ferritin (B), iron (C) hepcidin (D), interleukin (IL)-10 (E), IL-1β (F), nitric oxide (NO) (G), and interferon (IFN)-γ (H) stratified by age and the body-mass index (BMI) (<i>n</i> = 137).

<p>Distributions of serum testosterone (A), ferritin (B), iron (C) hepcidin (D), interleukin (IL)-10 (E), IL-1β (F), nitric oxide (NO) (G), and interferon (IFN)-γ (H) stratified by age and the body-mass index (BMI) (<i>n</i> = 137).</p

Age- and gender-specific cutoff points for the body-mass index (BMI) for overweight and obese boys and young adolescents according to guidelines of the Department of Health, Taiwan.

<p>Age- and gender-specific cutoff points for the body-mass index (BMI) for overweight and obese boys and young adolescents according to guidelines of the Department of Health, Taiwan.</p

Pearson’s rank correlation coefficient and partial <i>r</i> of log-transformed serum testosterone with selected iron statuses and inflammatory cytokines in 137 boys.

<p>Pearson’s rank correlation coefficient and partial <i>r</i> of log-transformed serum testosterone with selected iron statuses and inflammatory cytokines in 137 boys.</p

Additional file 1: of Perceived risk of tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Swaziland

Questionnaire in English. (PDF 223 kb

Cultural and semantic equivalence of the activity measure post-acute care (AM-PAC) after its translation into Mandarin Chinese

<p><b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this study was to investigate the cultural and semantic equivalence of the Activity Measure Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) outpatient short forms after they were translated from American English to Mandarin Chinese.</p> <p><b>Method:</b> This study was conducted with a composite sample of a group of 483 American adults (mean age 63.1 years, 42.4% males) and 553 Taiwanese adults (mean age 60.6 years, 47.2% males) who were undergoing home care or outpatient rehabilitation services. A confirmatory factor analysis tested the cultural equivalence of the AM-PAC dimensions between the US and Taiwanese samples. Semantic equivalence was tested through an item response theory-based differential item functioning (DFI) analysis.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Results of the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good model-data fit of the AM-PAC in both the US and Taiwanese samples. Significant DFI was found for six Basic Mobility items, two Daily Activity items, and four Applied Cognition items. A DFI adjusted conversion table was generated to transform the raw scores of the measure for comparisons between the two countries.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides evidence to support the conceptual equivalence of the AM-PAC when used in rehabilitation patients between American and Taiwanese cultural contexts. Some DFI items between the two groups were found, suggesting that some differences in semantic understanding of these items between cultures require cross-cultural adjustments.Implications for Rehabilitation</p><p>Cultural equivalence needs to be tested before applying a clinical measure to another context.</p><p>The findings of this study supported the three activity domains that the Activity Measure Post-Acute Care measures: Basic Mobility, Daily Activity, and Applied Cognition, which are all important rehabilitation outcomes that need to be assessed and monitored across rehabilitation settings.</p><p>Differential item functioning was observed between the English and Chinese versions of the Activity Measure Post-Acute Care, indicating that linguistic and cultural differences across countries need to be adjusted for before using the translated measure in clinical practice.</p><p></p> <p>Cultural equivalence needs to be tested before applying a clinical measure to another context.</p> <p>The findings of this study supported the three activity domains that the Activity Measure Post-Acute Care measures: Basic Mobility, Daily Activity, and Applied Cognition, which are all important rehabilitation outcomes that need to be assessed and monitored across rehabilitation settings.</p> <p>Differential item functioning was observed between the English and Chinese versions of the Activity Measure Post-Acute Care, indicating that linguistic and cultural differences across countries need to be adjusted for before using the translated measure in clinical practice.</p

Significantly Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Patients with Gallstone Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To investigate whether gallstone disease (GD) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large population-based cohort.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>A study population including 6,981 patients with GD was identified from The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2004 and 2005. GD patients were defined as patients with principal discharge diagnoses of cholelithiasis using the ICD-9-CM code 574. 27,924 patients without GD were randomly selected and matched for age and gender. All patients were followed for 6 years or until diagnosis for CVD. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the risk of developing CVD with adjustment for age, gender and co-morbid conditions.</p> <p>Results</p><p>During the six years follow-up period, 935 patients with GD and 2,758 patients without GD developed CVD. Patients with GD had an elevated risk of CVD (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.22-1.43) when compared with those without GD. Similar relationship was observed when CVD was categorized i.e. stroke (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.32), coronary heart disease (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28-1.58) and heart failure (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.73). When GD was classified according to the level of severity, using patients without GD as reference, the risks of CVD were elevated in patients with non-severe GD (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.46) as well as those with severe GD (HR, 1.20, 95% CI, 1.02-1.40), after adjusting for age, gender and comorbidities. In age-stratified analysis, patients aged 18-40 years with GD were at higher risk of developing CVD (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.09-1.84) than older GD patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p><p>This study found an increased risk of CVD in patients diagnosed with GD. The excess risk was particularly high in younger GD patients. Prevention of GD could help reduce the risk of developing CVD, and the better effect could be achieved for the younger age groups.</p> </div

Kaplan-Meier 6-year CVD event free probability curves for gallstone and non-gallstone disease groups.

<p>Kaplan-Meier 6-year CVD event free probability curves for gallstone and non-gallstone disease groups.</p