Effects of risk-based multifactorial fall prevention on health-related quality of life among the community-dwelling aged: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effects of a risk-based, multifactorial fall prevention programme on health-related quality of life among the community-dwelling aged who had fallen at least once during the previous 12 months. METHODS: The study is a part of a single-centre, risk-based, multifactorial randomised controlled trial. The intervention lasted for 12 months and consisted of a geriatric assessment, guidance and treatment, individual instruction in fall prevention, group exercise, lectures on themes related to falling, psychosocial group activities and home exercise. Of the total study population (n = 591, 97% of eligible subjects), 513(251 in the intervention group and 262 in the control group) participated in this study. The effect of the intervention on quality of life was measured using the 15D health-related quality of life instrument consisting of 15 dimensions. The data were analysed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney U-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: In men, the results showed significant differences in the changes between the intervention and control groups in depression (p = 0.017) and distress (p = 0.029) and marginally significant differences in usual activities (p = 0.058) and sexual activity (p = 0.051). In women, significant differences in the changes between the groups were found in usual activities (p = 0.005) and discomfort/symptoms (p = 0.047). For the subjects aged 65 to 74 years, significant differences in the changes between the groups were seen in distress (p = 0.037) among men and in usual activities (p = 0.011) among women. All improvements were in favour of the intervention group. CONCLUSION: Fall prevention produced positive effects on some dimensions of health-related quality of life in the community-dwelling aged. Men benefited more than women

Micronutrient fortification of food and its impact on woman and child health: A systematic review

Background: Vitamins and minerals are essential for growth and metabolism. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 2 billion people are deficient in key vitamins and minerals. Groups most vulnerable to these micronutrient deficiencies are pregnant and lactating women and young children, given their increased demands. Food fortification is one of the strategies that has been used safely and effectively to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.Methods: A comprehensive search was done to identify all available evidence for the impact of fortification interventions. Studies were included if food was fortified with a single, dual or multiple micronutrients and impact of fortification was analyzed on the health outcomes and relevant biochemical indicators of women and children. We performed a meta-analysis of outcomes using Review Manager Software version 5.1.Results: Our systematic review identified 201 studies that we reviewed for outcomes of relevance. Fortification for children showed significant impacts on increasing serum micronutrient concentrations. Hematologic markers also improved, including hemoglobin concentrations, which showed a significant rise when food was fortified with vitamin A, iron and multiple micronutrients. Fortification with zinc had no significant adverse impact on hemoglobin levels. Multiple micronutrient fortification showed non-significant impacts on height for age, weight for age and weight for height Z-scores, although they showed positive trends. The results for fortification in women showed that calcium and vitamin D fortification had significant impacts in the post-menopausal age group. Iron fortification led to a significant increase in serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels in women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Folate fortification significantly reduced the incidence of congenital abnormalities like neural tube defects without increasing the incidence of twinning. The number of studies pooled for zinc and multiple micronutrients for women were few, though the evidence suggested benefit. There was a dearth of evidence for the impact of fortification strategies on morbidity and mortality outcomes in women and children.Conclusion: Fortification is potentially an effective strategy but evidence from the developing world is scarce. Programs need to assess the direct impact of fortification on morbidity and mortality

Treatment effects of R-appliance and Anterior Inclined Bite Plate in Class II, Division I malocclusion

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a differently designed functional appliance (R-appliance) and the Anterior Inclined Bite Plate (AIBP) in Class II Division I (Cl II Div I) cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients (28 girls, 22 boys) were chosen for the study: 25 patients (13 girls, 12 boys) with mean age of 10.4±0.8 years were treated with R-appliance for 11±2 months, the other 25 patients (15 girls, 10 boys) with mean age of 9±1.2 years were treated with AIBP for 10±2 months. All patients had Cl II Div I malocclusion due to mandibular deficiency. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed at the beginning (T1, T 1) and end of the study (T2, T 2). RESULTS: Paired T-test showed that SNB had a significant increase in both groups. The same test revealed that IMPA was reduced in R-appliance for 3.1±4.7 (p<0.01), but it was increased for 0.1±5.1 (p<0.9) in AIBP group. T-test showed that the inter-group difference of IMPA was statistically significant (p<0.05). SNA showed an increase in both groups (p<0.9). Ar-B and Ar-Pog showed an increase in both groups and the differences between them were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular advancement was achieved in both groups, but R-appliance achieved this result without lingual tipping of lower incisors