Efficient transport and economic development: A transport survey analysis

Efficient transport and economic growth in a city or country are inter-related. The overall focus of the survey conducted was to find the travel habits of the residents in the city of Kuching (Malaysia), so as to weigh the prospects of economic development in future. The three objectives were to evaluate the efficiency of the local bus transportation system, to confirm on the usage of car as the preferred mode of transport, and to identify areas of improvement to the system as well as analyzing the need for an alternative mode(s) of transportation. The quantitative and qualitative analysis is done on data to find the relationships between various variables measured. Car has been confirmed to be the popular mode of transport across the age groups, across the income groups and across the professions, whereas the bus transport was really not significant. The study identified the important characteristics and priorities in the travel behavior of Kuching residents. The results of the study will be significant in the planning of new economic developments that encourages the use of public transportation in Kuching city

Relationship between living alone and common mental disorders in the 1993, 2000 and 2007 National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys

Given the high prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) and individuals living alone in the United Kingdom, the goal of this study using English nationally representative data was to examine the association between living alone and CMDs, and to identify potential mediating factors of this association. The data were drawn from the 1993, 2000 and 2007 National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys. CMDs were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R), a questionnaire focusing on past week neurotic symptoms. The presence of CMDs was defined as a CIS-R total score of 12 and above. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted to analyze the association between living alone and CMDs, and to identify mediators in this association. The prevalence of CMDs was higher in individuals living alone than in those not living alone in all survey years. Multivariable analysis showed a positive association between living alone and CMDs in all survey years (1993: odds ratio [OR] = 1.69; 2000: OR = 1.63; and 2007: OR = 1.88). Overall, loneliness explained 84% of the living alone-CMD association. Living alone was positively associated with CMDs. Interventions addressing loneliness among individuals living alone may be particularly important for the mental wellbeing of this vulnerable population

Physical multimorbidity and subjective cognitive complaints among adults in the United Kingdom: a cross-sectional community-based study

Our goal was to examine the association between physical multimorbidity and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) using UK nationally representative cross-sectional community-based data, and to quantify the extent to which a broad range of mainly psychological and behavioral factors explain this relationship. Data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey were analyzed [N = 7399 adults, mean (SD) age 46.3 (18.6) years, 48.6% men]. Multimorbidity was defined as ≥2 physical diseases. SCC included two different cognitive constructs: subjective concentration and memory complaints. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted. Multimorbidity was associated with higher prevalence of subjective concentration (30.7% vs. 17.3%) and memory complaints (42.8% vs. 22.9%) compared to no multimorbidity. In the regression model adjusted for sociodemographics, multimorbidity was associated with subjective concentration (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = 2.25-2.96) and memory complaints (OR = 2.34; 95% CI = 2.08-2.62). Sleep problems, stressful life events and any anxiety disorder explained 21-23%, 20-22% and 14-15% of the multimorbidity-SCC association, respectively. Multimorbidity and SCC are highly co-morbid. The utility of SCC screening in identifying individuals at high risk for future cognitive decline among individuals with multimorbidity should be assessed

Serious physical injury and depressive symptoms among adolescents aged 12-15 years from 21 low- and middle-income countries

Background: Little is known about the relationship between physical injury and depression in youths from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between serious physical injury and depressive symptoms among adolescents in 21 LMICs. Methods: Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2003-2008) were analyzed. Serious physical injury and depressive symptoms in the past 12 months were assessed with self-report measures. The association between serious physical injury and depressive symptoms was examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis. Results: The final sample consisted of 44,333 adolescents aged 12-15 years. After adjustment for sex, age, food insecurity, alcohol consumption, and country, an increasing number of serious physical injuries in the past 12 months was associated with increments in the odds for depressive symptoms in a dose-dependent fashion. Those who had ≥6 serious injuries (vs. no injuries) were 2.79 (95%CI=2.23-3.48) times more likely to have depressive symptoms. The pooled odds ratio (OR) (95%CI) for the association between at least one serious physical injury and depressive symptoms obtained by meta-analysis based on country-wise estimates was 1.83 (1.67-2.01) with a moderate level of between-country heterogeneity (I2=56.0%). Limitations: This was a cross-sectional study and causality of the association cannot be deduced. Conclusions: Serious physical injury may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms among adolescents in LMICs. Efforts to prevent physical injury and the provision of adequate health care for those who are injured may improve mental wellbeing among adolescents in this setting

Fast food consumption and suicide attempts among adolescents aged 12-15 years from 32 countries

Background: We examined the fast food consumption-suicide attempt relationship among 105,061 adolescents aged 12-15 years from 32 countries. Methods: This study was based on cross-sectional data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), and included 4 low-income, 13 lower middle-income, 9 upper middle-income, and 6 high-income countries. Data on past 7-day fast food consumption and 12-month suicide attempts were collected. The association between fast food consumption and suicide attempts was investigated with multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis while adjusting for sex, age, food insecurity (proxy of socioeconomic status), alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, obesity, carbonated soft drink consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Results: Overall, the prevalence of fast food consumption was high (53.5%) and the proportion of suicide attempts was higher among consumers of fast food compared to non-consumers (11.8% vs. 8.3%). Of the 32 countries included in the study, a positive association between fast food consumption and suicide attempts was found in 26 countries although this was not statistically significant in all countries. The pooled OR (95% CI) based on a meta-analysis was 1.31 (1.17-1.46). Limitations: Since this was a cross-sectional study, it is not possible to draw any conclusions about causality or temporality in the associations assessed. Conclusions: Fast food consumption is positively associated with suicide attempts in adolescents. Further research of longitudinal design is needed to confirm/refute our findings and explore the potential underlying mechanisms

The anatomical and functional benefit of bevacizumab in the treatment of macular edema associated with Purtscher-like retinopathy

We read the article by Miguel et al1 regarding Purtscher’s and Purtscher-like retinopathies with great interest. As the authors well describe, ‘Purtscher-like retinopathy’ is diagnosed in patients with fundus findings similar to Purtscher’s retinopathy, without a history of trauma but with known systemic associations.1 Current proposed mechanisms for the underlying pathogenesis include leukocyte aggregation by activated complement factor 5 (C5a).2 As noted by the authors’ systematic review, there is currently no established treatment for Purtscher-like retinopathy, although the literature consists of several case reports of treatment with corticosteroids, without certainty as to effect on the clinical course.1 Herein, we report for the first time a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy treated successfully with intravitreal bevacizumab injection

Second-hand smoking and depressive symptoms among in-school adolescents

Introduction: Smoking has been linked with depressive symptoms in adolescents but data on second-hand smoking (SHS) and depressive symptoms in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between SHS and depressive symptoms among in-school adolescents from 22 LMICs. Methods: Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2003-2008 were analyzed in June 2019. Data on past-week exposure to second-hand smoke and past-year depressive symptoms were collected. The association between SHS and depressive symptoms was studied using multivariable logistic regressions and meta-analyses. Results: The sample consisted of 37,505 adolescents aged 12-15 years who never smoked. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased from 23.0% in adolescents with no SHS to 28.9% in those with SHS everyday in the past week. After adjusting for sex, age, food insecurity, and country, there was a dose-response relationship between SHS and depressive symptoms in the overall sample [0 day: reference; 1-2 days: OR=1.06 (95%CI=0.95-1.18); 3-6 days: OR=1.38 (95%CI=1.20-1.58); 7 days: OR=1.63 (95%CI=1.44-1.86)]. Finally, the country-wise analysis showed that SHS on at least 3 days (vs. <3 days) in the past week was associated with a 1.48-fold increase in the odds of depressive symptoms (95%CI=1.39-1.59), with a low level of between-country heterogeneity (I2=4.2%). Conclusions: There was a positive association between SHS and depressive symptoms among in-school adolescents from LMICs. Further research should investigate causality and assess whether prevention of exposure to second-hand smoke can have a positive effect on the mental well-being of adolescents

Relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and problem gambling: A mediation analysis of influential factors among 7,403 individuals from the UK

Background and aims Our goal was to examine the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and gambling problems, and to identify potential mediating factors of this association. Methods This study used cross-sectional, community-based data from 7,403 people aged ≥16 years who participated in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. Problem gambling was assessed using a questionnaire based on the 10 DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. Respondents were classified as having no problem, at-risk, or problem gambling. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted to analyze the association between ADHD symptoms (i.e., ASRS score ≥14) and problem gambling and the role of several variables in this association. Results The prevalence of at-risk (5.3% vs. 2.4%) and problem gambling (2.4% vs. 0.6%) was higher in individuals with ADHD symptoms than in those without ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with both at-risk (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.22–3.79) and problem gambling (OR = 3.57; 95% CI = 1.53–8.31) when adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. Common mental disorders (CMDs; i.e., depression and anxiety disorders) (mediated percentage = 22.4%), borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits (22.1%), stressful life events (13.2%), stress at work or home (12.6%), alcohol dependence (11.8%), and impulsivity (11.2%) were significant mediators in the ADHD–gambling association. Discussion and conclusions Overall, ADHD symptoms were positively associated with problem gambling. CMDs, BPD traits, and stressful life events were important mediators in this relationship

Informal caregiving and physical activity among 204,315 adults in 38 low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study

Data on the association between informal caregiving and physical activity (PA) levels are scarce, especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, previous research has yielded conflicting results. Thus, we investigated this association in adults from 38 LMICs. Data from the World Health Survey (WHS), a cross-sectional, predominantly nationally representative survey conducted in 2002-2004, were analyzed. PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and participants were dichotomized into those who do (≥150 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week) and do not (<150 min = low PA) comply with the World Health Organization PA recommendations. Those who provided help to a relative or friend (adult or child), because this person has a long-term physical or mental illness or disability, or is getting old and weak in the past year were considered to be informal caregivers. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the associations. There were 204,315 adults aged ≥18 years from 38 LMICs included in this study [mean (standard deviation) age 38.6 (16.1) years; 50.7% female]. Overall, the prevalence of caregiving and low PA was 19.5% and 29.9%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, caregivers were at a lower risk for low PA compared to non-caregivers (OR=0.79; 95%CI=0.72-0.86). Engagement in greater number of caregiving activities was associated with lower odds for low PA dose-dependently. Informal caregiving was associated with higher levels of PA in adults in LMICs. Future studies of longitudinal design are warranted to understand causality and the underlying mechanisms of this association