Sensitivity and Specificity of Procalcitonin in Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Background and Objective: According to the fact that neonatal infection is a challenging diagnosis field, several studies have tried to test sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. This study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin (PCT) as a single early marker of neonatal sepsis. Materials and Methods: In this study, 150 neonates admitted to NICU and neonatal ward in Shahrekord Hajar hospital were enrolled. A full workup including blood cultureand other tests and PCT was conductede. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for PCT was determined. Results: It was found out that 8 patients had definite infection, 15 patients had possible infection, and 127 patients had no infection. Although PCT was not able to significantly differentiate between those with definite and possible infections (p>0.05), but there was a significant difference for frequency of abnormal PCT between non-infectious patients and other patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of PCT was 87.5%, 87.4%, 30.4%, 99.1%, and 87.41% respectively. Conclusion: Beside the limitation of the sample size, the satisfactory diagnostic characteristics of PCT highlight it as a good measure for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Further studies are essential to be carried out

Nutritional Status and Anthropometric Indices in relation to Menstrual Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose. Dietary habit and body composition can develop risk of menstrual disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between macronutrient intake, anthropometric indices, and menstrual disorders. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 217 women with an average age of 28.8 +/- 7.9 years. Anthropometric indices including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and skinfold thickness from all participants were measured. Menstrual cycle characteristics were self-reported. The dietary habits were assessed by using a modified, semiquantitative 147 items Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) by two trained dietitians. Chi-square and independent T-test were used to assess bivariate associations and logistic regression was implemented in SPSS 21. Results. Most of the participants (52.5%) suffered from at least one of the menstrual disorders including painful menstruation (41%), premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (24.9%), and irregular menstruation (22.1%). The mean of waist circumference in women with no complication was 76.0 +/- 11.8 and in women with at least one disorder was 86.7 +/- 14.0 (P<0.001). Our results suggest that women with no disorder consumed less calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and fat in comparison to women with at least one disorder (P<0.001). Furthermore, the proportion of all kinds of disorders among women, who had overweight or obesity, was significantly higher than women with normal BMI (P<0.001). Conclusion. Irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, and PMS were significantly associated with high intake of calories, proteins, carbohydrates, and total fat. Furthermore, menstruation-related complications were worsened by obesity

The effect of educational intervention based on social support theory on the perceived stress caused by the covid-19 pandemic in patients with diabetes in hormozgan (2020–2021)

Background People with diabetes are more at risk of covid-19. Perceived social support plays an important role in maintaining people’s health and reducing the negative effects of stress caused by the environment and society. The present study was designed and implemented with the purpose of determining the effect of educational intervention based on social support theory in reducing stress caused by the covid-19 pandemic in people with diabetes. Methods The current investigation was an interventional and semi-experimental study conducted on 212 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Eligible participants were diabetic individuals capable of utilizing virtual platforms and not afflicted with COVID-19. Exclusion criteria encompassed unwillingness to continue study participation, absence from multiple training sessions, and development of a specific illness during the study period. Random allocation placed patients into either the control or intervention group. The intervention group received educational materials via WhatsApp, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The researcher administered a questionnaire to collect demographic information and assess perceived social support among the patients. Data analysis involved the use of chi-square tests, independent and paired t-tests, as well as ANCOVA. Results This study revealed that the mean age of patients in the control and intervention groups was 46.35 ± 14.15 and 51.72 ± 11.57, respectively. Most of the diabetic patients in both groups were female, married, had a diploma, were housekeepers, and had an income between 2 and 5 million Tomans. According to the results obtained in all subscales of social support theory as well as the perceived stress score due to the corona pandemic after the educational intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P < 0.05), so that the score of all subscales of social support theory in the intervention group was higher than the control group. But the perceived stress score caused by Corona in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion The results of this study illustrate the noteworthy influence of social support training in lessening perceived stress among patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, healthcare providers are encouraged to integrate social support education programs into comprehensive care initiatives for diabetic patients, particularly during periods of heightened stress like the current coronavirus pandemic

Comparing the Effects of Long-term Exposure to Extremely Low-frequency Electromagnetic Fields With Different Values on Learning, Memory, Anxiety, and β-amyloid Deposition in Adult Rats

Introduction: Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMFs) have gathered significant consideration for their possible pathogenicity. However, their effects on the nervous system's functions were not fully clarified. This study aimed to assay the impact of ELF-EMFs with different intensities on memory, anxiety, antioxidant activity, β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, and microglia population in rats. Methods: Fifty male adult rats were randomly separated into 5 groups; 4 were exposed to a flux density of 1, 100, 500, and 2000 microtesla (µT), 50 Hz frequency for one h/day for two months, and one group as a control group. The control group was without ELF-EMF stimulation. After 8 weeks, passive avoidance and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) tests were performed to assess memory formation and anxiety-like behavior, respectively. Total free thiol groups and the index of lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Additionally, for detection of Aβ deposition and stained microglia in the brain, anti-β-amyloid and anti-Iba1 antibodies were used. Results: The step-through latency in the retention test in ELF-EMF exposure groups (100500 & 2000 µT) was significantly greater than the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the frequency of the entries into the open arms in ELF-EMF exposure groups (especially 2000 µT) decreased than the control group (P<0.05). No Aβ depositions were detected in the hippocampus of different groups. An increase in microglia numbers in the 100, 500, and 2000 µT groups was observed compared to the control and one µT group. Conclusion: Exposure to ELF-EMF had an anxiogenic effect on rats, promoted memory, and induced oxidative stress. No Aβ depositions were detected in the brain. Moreover, the positive impact of ELF-EMF was observed on the microglia population in the brain

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose-response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15-95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15-39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0-0) and 0.603 (0.400-1.00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0.002 (0-0) and 1.75 (0.698-4.30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0.114 (0-0.403) to 1.87 (0.500-3.30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0.193 (0-0.900) and 6.94 (3.40-8.30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59.1% (54.3-65.4) were aged 15-39 years and 76.9% (73.0-81.3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background: The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods: For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings: The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation: There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation