Acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection can lead to cognitive dysfunction represented by changes in the default mode network.Most recent studies have been cross-sectional and thus have not revealed dynamic chang...Acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection can lead to cognitive dysfunction represented by changes in the default mode network.Most recent studies have been cross-sectional and thus have not revealed dynamic changes in the default mode network following acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection and antiretroviral therapy.Specifically,when brain imaging data at only one time point are analyzed,determining the duration at which the default mode network is the most effective following antiretroviral therapy after the occurrence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.However,because infection times and other factors are often uncertain,longitudinal studies cannot be conducted directly in the clinic.Therefore,in this study,we performed a longitudinal study on the dynamic changes in the default mode network over time in a rhesus monkey model of simian immunodeficiency virus infection.We found marked changes in default mode network connectivity in 11 pairs of regions of interest at baseline and 10 days and 4 weeks after virus inoculation.Significant interactions between treatment and time were observed in the default mode network connectivity of regions of interest pairs area 31/V6.R and area 8/frontal eye field(FEF).L,area 8/FEF.L and caudal temporal parietal occipital area(TPOC).R,and area 31/V6.R and TPOC.L.ART administered 4 weeks after infection not only interrupted the progress of simian immunodeficiency virus infection but also preserved brain function to a large extent.These findings suggest that the default mode network is affected in the early stage of simian immunodeficiency virus infection and that it may serve as a potential biomarker for early changes in brain function and an objective indicator for making early clinical intervention decisions.展开更多
● AIM: To investigate the changes in the choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric children in a longitudinal study, and to determine the ocular and systemic parameters that were significantly correlated with the chan...● AIM: To investigate the changes in the choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric children in a longitudinal study, and to determine the ocular and systemic parameters that were significantly correlated with the changes in the choroidal thickness.● METHODS: This study included 64 eyes of 34 healthy Japanese children with a mean age(±SD) of 4.4(±0.4)y(range, 3.6-5.8 y) at baseline. Swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT) was used to record images of the retina and choroid at the baseline and after a mean followup period of about 1.5 y. The 3 D raster scan protocol was used to construct the choroidal thickness map. Mean choroidal thickness was calculated for each of the nine sectors of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid. Best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, body height, and weight were also measured. Changes in measurements were defined as the baseline values subtracted from the values at the final visit. A generalized estimating equation was used to eliminate the effect of within-subject intereye correlations.● RESULTS: The mean central choroidal thickness was significantly reduced during the follow-up period(baseline, 301.8±8.6 μm; final visit, 286.6±8.0 μm, P<0.001). The decrease in the choroidal thickness was greatest in the central sector, followed by the sectors of the inner and outer rings. The inner and outer rings had diameters of 1 to 3 mm and 3 to 6 mm, respectively. The changes in the choroidal thickness in the central, inner ring, and outer ring sectors were significantly and negatively correlated with the age, baseline body height, baseline body weight, and elongation of the axial length.● CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the choroidal thickness among preschool-aged Japanese children decreased significantly during the follow-up period. The choroidal thinning is significantly associated with the elongation of axial length. These characteristics should be considered in the evaluation of choroidal thickness in younger children with retinochoroidal disorders.展开更多
Background:To determine the associations between sleep duration and overweight/obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.Methods:This longitudinal study analyzed 3,126 children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years who...Background:To determine the associations between sleep duration and overweight/obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.Methods:This longitudinal study analyzed 3,126 children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years who had participated in the China Health and Nutrition Survey during 2004-2011.Sleep duration was classified into<9 h,9-10 h,and>10 h for children aged 7-12 years,and<8 h,8-9 h,and>9 h for adolescents aged 13-18 years.Results:After adjusting for confounder,short sleep duration was associated with overweight/obesity for girls aged 7-12 years(β=4.32,95%confidence interval=1.27 to 7.37,P=0.006)and boys aged 13-18 years(β=3.38,95%confidence interval=2.01 to 4.74,P<0.001).No statistically significant association was found among the other 2 groups.Meanwhile,long sleep duration was not statistically significant at any age.Conclusion:The association between short sleep duration and overweight/obesity to be dependent on both age and gender.展开更多
Background:Although great success has been achieved,schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in China,and the remaining core endemic regions are concentrated along the middle and lower reaches of the Yang...Background:Although great success has been achieved,schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in China,and the remaining core endemic regions are concentrated along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.In this longitudinal study,we evaluated the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary,integrated approach for schistosomiasis elimination in a historically hyper-endemic region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China over the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014.Methods:A three-step roadmap for schistosomiasis elimination was designed in the study site,and multidisciplinary,integrated interventions were implemented by the health,agriculture,water resources development,land and resources,and forestry sectors from 2005 to 2014,including chemotherapy for infected individuals,health education,management of the source of Schistosoma japonicum infection,and intermediate host snail control.The annual number of schistosomiasis patients,S.japonicum infection in humans,bovines and Oncomelania hupensis snails,and water infectivity were observed to assess the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary,integrated approach for the elimination of schistosomiasis.Results:There was a tendency towards a gradual decline in both the number of schistosomiasis cases and the prevalence of S.japonicum human infection across the study period from 2005 through 2014.No S.japonicum human infection was detected since 2012,and no acute infection was seen since 2006.During the study period,no infection was found in bovines,and a 0.03%overall infection rate was observed in O.hupensis snails.Since 2009,no infected snails were identified,and the area of both snail habitats and infected snail habitats appeared a reduction over the study period.Following the 3-year multidisciplinary,integrated control,infection control was achieved,and transmission control was achieved after 6-year implementation,with all infected snails and water infectivity eliminated;in addition,the 10-year implementation resulted in interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in the study site in 2014.Conclusions:The results of the present 10-year longitudinal study demonstrate that the multidisciplinary,integrated approach is effective for the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China.展开更多
Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely u...Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.展开更多
Local arterials can be significantly impacted by diversions from adjacent work zones. These diversions often occur on unofficial detour routes due to guidance received on personal navigation devices. Often, these rout...Local arterials can be significantly impacted by diversions from adjacent work zones. These diversions often occur on unofficial detour routes due to guidance received on personal navigation devices. Often, these routes do not have sufficien<span style="font-family:Verdana;">t sensing or communication equipment to obtain infrastructure-based tra</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ffic signal performance measures, so other data sources are required to identify locations being significantly affected by diversions. This paper examines the network impact caused by the start of an 18-month closure of the I-65/70 interchange (North Split), which usually serves approximately 214,000 vehicles per day in Indianapolis, IN. In anticipation of some proportion of the public diverting from official detour routes to local streets, a connected vehicle monitoring program was established to provide daily performances measures for over 100 intersections in the area without the need for vehicle sensing equipment. This study reports on 13 of the most impacted signals on an alternative arterial to identify locations and time of day where operations are most degraded, so that decision makers have quantitative information to make informed adjustments to the system. Individual vehicle movements at the studied locations are analyzed to estimate changes in volume, split failures, downstream blockage, arrivals on green, and travel times. Over 130,000 trajectories were analyzed in an 11-week period. Weekly afternoon peak period volumes increased by approximately 455%, split failures increased 3%, downstream blockage increased 10%, arrivals on green decreased 16%, and travel time increase 74%. The analysis performed in this paper will serve as a framework for any agency that wants to assess traffic signal performance at hundreds of locations with little or no existing sensing or communication infrastructure to prioritize tactical retiming and/or longer-term infrastructure investments.</span>展开更多
Using questionnaire is a common, efficient and cheap way to collect data in population-based epidemiological studies. However, there is a general trend of declining response rates leading to a higher risk for bias aff...Using questionnaire is a common, efficient and cheap way to collect data in population-based epidemiological studies. However, there is a general trend of declining response rates leading to a higher risk for bias affecting the validity of results. Use of anonymous questionnaires and/or other ways of distributions, e.g. via schools instead of postal, may increase response rates, but can also lead to other types of systematic errors. This study indicates that results from cross-sectional questionnaire studies differ depending on distribution method and whether the survey is anonymous or not. Also the official purpose of the survey may affect the outcome. When studying well-known risk-factors and health effects, potential methodological problems like reporting bias must be considered in cross sectional studies.展开更多
The present study aims to understand changes in health problems, health complaints and coping strategies, during the obesity treatment process with qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty bariatric patients were int...The present study aims to understand changes in health problems, health complaints and coping strategies, during the obesity treatment process with qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty bariatric patients were interviewed before bariatric surgery and at a 12-month follow-up, and fulfilled self-report measures about health problems, health complaints and coping strategies before surgery, at 6-and 12-month follow-ups. Before surgery, failure cases differ from success on the conceptualization of obesity, However, there are no other differences between groups. At 6-and 12-month follow-ups, failure cases had the highest BMI, health problems and complaints and less % EWL than success cases. One year after the surgery, one in each three persons did not lose the expected weight, i.e., are failure cases. Before surgery, there are no differences between success and failure cases in the report of health problems, health complaints and coping strategies, but they have different conceptualizations of their obesity and treatment. One year after the surgery, success cases understood bariatric surgery as an important moment in their lives related to their expected results, whereas failures valued unexpected dimensions and still waiting for a miracle surgery without their personal commitment. Accordingly, it is necessary to consider lifestyle changes in the obesity treatment process.展开更多
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustain...Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustained performance by using the Baldrige Excellence Framework (BEF). The “Balanced Score Cards” (BSC) methodology, as an instrument of designing, cascading and communicating strategy, was introduced in 1992. Operations excellence is an outcome of a well-designed, monitored and implemented operations strategy (OS). This paper traces the evolution of an “OS Wheel” model of operations strategy, for continuous manufacturing industries (CMI), deployed using the BEF, using BSC’s, to achieve performance excellence and sustained competitive advantage. The model was applied in a large scale, CMI company in India, over a period of fifteen years (a longitudinal study), the description of which will demonstrate its utility.展开更多
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustain...Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustained performance by using the Baldrige Excellence Framework (BEF). The “Balanced Score Cards” (BSC) methodology, as an instrument of designing, cascading and communicating strategy, was introduced in 1992. Operations excellence is an outcome of a well-designed, monitored and implemented operations strategy (OS). This paper traces the evolution of an “OS Wheel” model of operations strategy, for continuous manufacturing industries (CMI), deployed using the BEF, using BSC’s, to achieve performance excellence and sustained competitive advantage. The model was applied in a large scale, CMI company in India, over a period of fifteen years (a longitudinal study), the description of which will demonstrate its utility.展开更多
Over the past two decades,dialogic accounting research has evolved into a distinct field,expanding into what is now recognized as critical dialogic accounting and accountability(CDAA).The integration of critical dialo...Over the past two decades,dialogic accounting research has evolved into a distinct field,expanding into what is now recognized as critical dialogic accounting and accountability(CDAA).The integration of critical dialogic accounting and accountability acknowledges the growing need to recognize diverse pathways within accounting practices,emphasizing the representation of marginalized perspectives,engagement with power dynamics,and the analysis of conflicts,particularly in the context of societal and environmental impacts.Based on these assumptions,the Integrated Popular Reporting(IPR)is intended as a useful practical dialogic tool designed to impartially represent the viewpoints of different stakeholders.The focus extends beyond traditional dialogic accounting,integrating a newer critical lens that explores the implications of digital technology in the reporting process.To explore these advancements,the study investigates the implementation of the City of Bari’s 2020 Integrated Popular Reporting.Leveraging tools such as Talkwalker and employing a longitudinal,interventionist approach along with semi-structured interviews,the study assesses the effects of digital technologies on the dialogic accounting process.The analysis shows that the use of digital technologies has facilitated a more participatory reporting structure,evident in increased citizen engagement and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.Notably,it has enhanced the accuracy of defining citizens’informational needs and addressed pertinent themes ranging from mobility,economy,digitization,regeneration,and employment.Moreover,it underscores the need to address the digital divide and ensure inclusivity across diverse demographics.Ultimately,it contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of technology in shaping the future of dialogic accounting and its broader implications for societal accountability.展开更多
Background:In China,an indigenously developed electronic medication monitor(EMM)was designed and used in 138 counties from three provinces.Previous studies showed positive results on accuracy,effectiveness,acceptabili...Background:In China,an indigenously developed electronic medication monitor(EMM)was designed and used in 138 counties from three provinces.Previous studies showed positive results on accuracy,effectiveness,acceptability,and feasibility,but also found some ineffective implementations.In this paper,we assessed the effect of implementation of EMMs on treatment outcomes.Methods:The longitudinal ecological method was used at the county level with aggregate secondary programmatic data.All the notified TB cases in 138 counties were involved in this study from April 2017 to June 2019,and rifampicinresistant cases were excluded.We fitted a multilevel model to assess the relative change in the quarterly treatment success rate with increasing quarterly EMM coverage rate,in which a mixed effects maximum likelihood regression using random intercept model was applied,by adjusting for seasonal trends,population size,sociodemographic and clinical characteristics,and clustering within counties.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally.Gastric intestinal metaplasia(GIM)is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer.The natural history of GI...BACKGROUND Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally.Gastric intestinal metaplasia(GIM)is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer.The natural history of GIM formation and progression over time is not fully understood.Currently,there are no clear guidelines on GIM surveillance or management in the United States.AIM To investigate factors associated with GIM development over time in African American-predominant study population.METHODS This is a retrospective longitudinal study in a single tertiary hospital in Washington DC.We retrieved upper esophagogastroduodenoscopies(EGDs)with gastric biopsies from the pathology department database from January 2015 to December 2020.Patients included in the study had undergone two or more EGDswith gastric biopsy.Patients with no GIM at baseline were followed up until they developed GIM or until the last available EGD.Exclusion criteria consisted of patients age<18,pregnancy,previous diagnosis of gastric cancer,and missing data including pathology results or endoscopy reports.The study population was divided into two groups based on GIM status.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard induced by patient demographics,EGD findings,and Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)status on the GIM status.RESULTS Of 2375 patients who had at least 1 EGD with gastric biopsy,579 patients were included in the study.138 patients developed GIM during the study follow-up period of 1087 d on average,compared to 857 d in patients without GIM(P=0.247).The average age of GIM group was 64 years compared to 56 years in the non-GIM group(P<0.001).In the GIM group,adding one year to the age increases the risk for GIM formation by 4%(P<0.001).Over time,African Americans,Hispanic,and other ethnicities/races had an increased risk of GIM compared to Caucasians with a hazard ratio(HR)of 2.12(1.16,3.87),2.79(1.09,7.13),and 3.19(1.5,6.76)respectively.No gender difference was observed between the study populations.Gastritis was associated with an increased risk for GIM development with an HR of 1.62(1.07,2.44).On the other hand,H.pylori infection did not increase the risk for GIM.CONCLUSION An increase in age and non-Caucasian race/ethnicity are associated with an increased risk of GIM formation.The effect of H.pylori on GIM is limited in low prevalence areas.展开更多
Background:To examine the association between alcohol drinking and short sleep duration among Chinese adults.Methods:Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,28,167 records of 15,074 adults longitudinal data were obt...Background:To examine the association between alcohol drinking and short sleep duration among Chinese adults.Methods:Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,28,167 records of 15,074 adults longitudinal data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey for the period from 2004 to 2011.A multilevel logistic regression model was employed to explore the association between alcohol drinking and sleep duration.Results:Compared with nondrinking participants,a high drinking frequency was positively correlated with a short sleep duration in both the males(odds ratio(OR)=1.33,95%confidence interval(CI)=1.20–1.48,P<0.001)and females(OR=1.60,95%CI=1.18–2.18,P=0.003)before the covariates were adjusted.After adjusting for age,residence area,education level,marital status,smoking,coffee consumption,tea consumption,and activity level,this association remained significant in the males(OR=1.31,95%CI=1.17–1.46,P<0.001)but not in the females(OR=1.16,95%CI=0.85–1.59,P=0.340).Conclusion:The present results suggest that a high drinking frequency was positively correlated with a short sleep duration in male population.Comprehensive measures therefore need to be implemented to improve sleep duration,especially to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol.展开更多
Objective:Depression appears to be common among the patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Therefore,how to comprehensively analyze the changes in depression and its impact on patient outcomes is an impor tant re...Objective:Depression appears to be common among the patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Therefore,how to comprehensively analyze the changes in depression and its impact on patient outcomes is an impor tant research direction.The objectives of this study were to assess changes in depression and whether depression can be used to predict outcomes in patients receiving hemodialysis.Methods:In a longitudinal study,317 patients receiving hemodialysis from two hospitals were investigated.Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMDS)at baseline.Outcomes data(survival and mor tality)were collected from baseline to the end of follow-up 2 years later.Mor tality was assessed using Cox propor tional hazards analysis.Results:The HAMDS score and percentage of high scores increased at three time points.Moreover,the changes were statistically significant.Surviving patients had significantly lower HAMDS scores.Through multivariate Cox regression analysis,age and depression can be used to predict mor tality(P<0.05),and the relative risks(RRs)were 1.032 and 1.069,respectively.Conclusions:Depression in patients receiving hemodialysis is worse.Moreover,baseline depression is an independent predictor of outcomes.Patients receiving hemodialysis should be focused on improving their psychological complications.A systematic and individual psychological health promotion plan must also be incorporated into the health education plan for patients receiving hemodialysis.展开更多
This study aimed to assess whether birth weight is associated with dental caries during the teenage period. In this register-based cohort study, all children of 13 yrs of age (n = 18,142) who resided in the county of ...This study aimed to assess whether birth weight is associated with dental caries during the teenage period. In this register-based cohort study, all children of 13 yrs of age (n = 18,142) who resided in the county of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000 were included. The cohort was followed until individuals were 19 yrs of age. Information regarding dental caries was collected from the Public Health Care Administration in Stockholm. Data concerning prenatal and perinatal factors and parental socio-demographic determinants were collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register and National Registers at Statistics Sweden. The final logistic regression model showed that birth weight (≥4000 g), adjusted for potential confounders, was significantly associated with caries increment (DMFT ≥ 1) between 13 and 19 yrs of age (OR: 1.29, 95% CI = 1.13 - 1.48). The relatively enhanced risk OR was further increased from 1.29 to 1.52 in sub- jects with birth weight (≥4600 g). On the contrary, subjects with birth weight (<2500 g) exhibited a sig- nificantly lower risk (OR: 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50 - 0.89) for exhibiting caries experience (DMFT ≥4) at 19 yrs of age. In conclusion, birth weight can be regarded as a predictor for dental caries and birth weight (≥4000 g) is especially a risk factor for caries increment during adolescence.展开更多
Personality change is among criteria for the diagnosis of dementia. We examine first whether personality changes are related to severity of cognitive impairment in a linear or an inverted-U fashion in 1132 demented ol...Personality change is among criteria for the diagnosis of dementia. We examine first whether personality changes are related to severity of cognitive impairment in a linear or an inverted-U fashion in 1132 demented older people from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) and 921 unimpaired older people. The proportion with reported change was larger for all measures in the demented group than in the cognitively unimpaired group, and was more consistent with a linear increase in personality change with increasing cognitive impairment than with an inverted-U relationship, as seen in only one variable. In our second (longitudinal) study, we evaluate which aspects of personality change most in dementia;changes in mood and an exaggeration of existing traits were the variables most closely related to the development of dementia.展开更多
Often in longitudinal studies, some subjects complete their follow-up visits, but others miss their visits due to various reasons. For those who miss follow-up visits, some of them might learn that the event of intere...Often in longitudinal studies, some subjects complete their follow-up visits, but others miss their visits due to various reasons. For those who miss follow-up visits, some of them might learn that the event of interest has already happened when they come back. In this case, not only are their event times interval-censored, but also their time-dependent measurements are incomplete. This problem was motivated by a national longitudinal survey of youth data. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method based on expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is used for parameter estimation. Then missing information principle is applied to estimate the variance-covariance matrix of the MLEs. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method works well in terms of bias, standard error, and power for samples of moderate size. The national longitudinal survey of youth 1997 (NLSY97) data is analyzed for illustration.展开更多
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From ...Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From 2004 to 2008,we evaluated QoL longitudinally in 128 DTC subjects.During scheduled examinations,subjects were asked to undergo a semi-structured psychiatric interview and five rated inventories.The same examination was conducted in 219 subjects after surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Low scores represent a better QoL.DTC and control subjects were similar in terms of age,male/female ratio,concomitant psychopharmacological treatments,and frequency of psychiatric diseases.In DTC subjects,Billewicz scale(BS) scores showed an increasing trend over time,especially among females.The ad hoc thyroid questionnaire(TQ) scores were similar in both groups and did not change over time,but at the end of the study ad hoc TQ and BS were significantly related.Ad hoc TQ scores were also related to age on entry to the study.In both male and female DTC subjects,Hamilton's tests for anxiety(HAM-A) ,but not for depression(HAM-D),showed an improving trend.At the end of the study,HAM-A and HAM-D scores were comparable to those of the control group.HAM-A and HAM-D were both positively correlated with the stage of cancer and the time between diagnosis and treatment.Only HAM-D correlated with age on entry to the study.Kellner symptom questionnaire(KSQ) item scores were higher in DTC subjects than in controls.The change over time in the items including anxiety,somatization,depression,and hostility was significant.Somatization and hostility were more significantly reduced in DTC females than in DTC males.Hostility scores were significantly lower in DTC subjects than in controls at the end of the study.Somatization and depression were significantly related to staging on diagnosis and age on entry to the study.Our study confirms a wide variation of illness perception in DTC subjects,which is generally unrelated to the favorable clinical follow-up of the disease.Psychological evaluation during long-term follow-up im-proved QoL scores,which reached the same levels noted in subjects with a history of thyroid surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Our data indicate that special attention should be paid to QoL in older DTC subjects and those with more severe staging on diagnosis.展开更多
Importance:The impact of long-term burden of excessive body weight,beginning in childhood,on inflammatory status in adulthood has been poorly described.Objective:To characterize the longitudinal body mass index(BMI)tr...Importance:The impact of long-term burden of excessive body weight,beginning in childhood,on inflammatory status in adulthood has been poorly described.Objective:To characterize the longitudinal body mass index(BMI)trajectory from childhood and examine its relationship with inflammatory status in adulthood.Methods:We included 1285 adults who had 4-15 repeat measurements of BMI from childhood to adulthood.The area under the curve(AUC)of growth curves was calculated to characterize long-term burden(total AUC)and trends(incremental AUC)of BMI.Results:After adjusting for covariates,higher values of BMI in terms of childhood and adulthood,as well as total and incremental AUC,were strongly associated with elevated levels of adult C-reactive protein(CRP)in the four race-sex groups.There were significant differences in linear and nonlinear curve parameters between the normal and high CRP groups for all race-sex groups(P<0.01).Compared with participants who had consistently low BMI in both childhood and adulthood,participants with high BMI in adulthood had higher CRP levels(P<0.001),irrespective of their childhood BMI status;participants with high BMI in childhood but low BMI in adulthood had similar adult CRP levels.Interpretation:The impact of excessive body weight on inflammation is cumulative and exacerbated over time.The influence of childhood overweight/obesity on inflammatory status in adulthood can be alleviated by reducing adiposity in adulthood.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82271963(to HJL),81771806(to HJL),61936013(to HJL),82001914(to ZCT),81871511(to HZ)National Key R&D Program of China,No.2021YFA1301603(to ZCT)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7212051(to HJL).
文摘Acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection can lead to cognitive dysfunction represented by changes in the default mode network.Most recent studies have been cross-sectional and thus have not revealed dynamic changes in the default mode network following acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection and antiretroviral therapy.Specifically,when brain imaging data at only one time point are analyzed,determining the duration at which the default mode network is the most effective following antiretroviral therapy after the occurrence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.However,because infection times and other factors are often uncertain,longitudinal studies cannot be conducted directly in the clinic.Therefore,in this study,we performed a longitudinal study on the dynamic changes in the default mode network over time in a rhesus monkey model of simian immunodeficiency virus infection.We found marked changes in default mode network connectivity in 11 pairs of regions of interest at baseline and 10 days and 4 weeks after virus inoculation.Significant interactions between treatment and time were observed in the default mode network connectivity of regions of interest pairs area 31/V6.R and area 8/frontal eye field(FEF).L,area 8/FEF.L and caudal temporal parietal occipital area(TPOC).R,and area 31/V6.R and TPOC.L.ART administered 4 weeks after infection not only interrupted the progress of simian immunodeficiency virus infection but also preserved brain function to a large extent.These findings suggest that the default mode network is affected in the early stage of simian immunodeficiency virus infection and that it may serve as a potential biomarker for early changes in brain function and an objective indicator for making early clinical intervention decisions.
文摘● AIM: To investigate the changes in the choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric children in a longitudinal study, and to determine the ocular and systemic parameters that were significantly correlated with the changes in the choroidal thickness.● METHODS: This study included 64 eyes of 34 healthy Japanese children with a mean age(±SD) of 4.4(±0.4)y(range, 3.6-5.8 y) at baseline. Swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT) was used to record images of the retina and choroid at the baseline and after a mean followup period of about 1.5 y. The 3 D raster scan protocol was used to construct the choroidal thickness map. Mean choroidal thickness was calculated for each of the nine sectors of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid. Best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, body height, and weight were also measured. Changes in measurements were defined as the baseline values subtracted from the values at the final visit. A generalized estimating equation was used to eliminate the effect of within-subject intereye correlations.● RESULTS: The mean central choroidal thickness was significantly reduced during the follow-up period(baseline, 301.8±8.6 μm; final visit, 286.6±8.0 μm, P<0.001). The decrease in the choroidal thickness was greatest in the central sector, followed by the sectors of the inner and outer rings. The inner and outer rings had diameters of 1 to 3 mm and 3 to 6 mm, respectively. The changes in the choroidal thickness in the central, inner ring, and outer ring sectors were significantly and negatively correlated with the age, baseline body height, baseline body weight, and elongation of the axial length.● CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the choroidal thickness among preschool-aged Japanese children decreased significantly during the follow-up period. The choroidal thinning is significantly associated with the elongation of axial length. These characteristics should be considered in the evaluation of choroidal thickness in younger children with retinochoroidal disorders.
基金the National Social Science Foundation of China(No.16BGL183).
文摘Background:To determine the associations between sleep duration and overweight/obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.Methods:This longitudinal study analyzed 3,126 children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years who had participated in the China Health and Nutrition Survey during 2004-2011.Sleep duration was classified into<9 h,9-10 h,and>10 h for children aged 7-12 years,and<8 h,8-9 h,and>9 h for adolescents aged 13-18 years.Results:After adjusting for confounder,short sleep duration was associated with overweight/obesity for girls aged 7-12 years(β=4.32,95%confidence interval=1.27 to 7.37,P=0.006)and boys aged 13-18 years(β=3.38,95%confidence interval=2.01 to 4.74,P<0.001).No statistically significant association was found among the other 2 groups.Meanwhile,long sleep duration was not statistically significant at any age.Conclusion:The association between short sleep duration and overweight/obesity to be dependent on both age and gender.
基金This study was supported by the grants from the National Science&Technology Pillar Program of China(grant no.2009BAI78B06)Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology(grant no.BL2014021)+1 种基金Jiangsu Provincial Young Talents in Medical Sciences(grant no.QNRC2016621)Jiangsu Department of Health(grant no.Q201410).
文摘Background:Although great success has been achieved,schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in China,and the remaining core endemic regions are concentrated along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.In this longitudinal study,we evaluated the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary,integrated approach for schistosomiasis elimination in a historically hyper-endemic region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China over the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014.Methods:A three-step roadmap for schistosomiasis elimination was designed in the study site,and multidisciplinary,integrated interventions were implemented by the health,agriculture,water resources development,land and resources,and forestry sectors from 2005 to 2014,including chemotherapy for infected individuals,health education,management of the source of Schistosoma japonicum infection,and intermediate host snail control.The annual number of schistosomiasis patients,S.japonicum infection in humans,bovines and Oncomelania hupensis snails,and water infectivity were observed to assess the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary,integrated approach for the elimination of schistosomiasis.Results:There was a tendency towards a gradual decline in both the number of schistosomiasis cases and the prevalence of S.japonicum human infection across the study period from 2005 through 2014.No S.japonicum human infection was detected since 2012,and no acute infection was seen since 2006.During the study period,no infection was found in bovines,and a 0.03%overall infection rate was observed in O.hupensis snails.Since 2009,no infected snails were identified,and the area of both snail habitats and infected snail habitats appeared a reduction over the study period.Following the 3-year multidisciplinary,integrated control,infection control was achieved,and transmission control was achieved after 6-year implementation,with all infected snails and water infectivity eliminated;in addition,the 10-year implementation resulted in interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in the study site in 2014.Conclusions:The results of the present 10-year longitudinal study demonstrate that the multidisciplinary,integrated approach is effective for the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,China.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81671671(to JL),61971451(to JL),U22A2034(to XK),62177047(to XK)the National Defense Science and Technology Collaborative Innovation Major Project of Central South University,No.2021gfcx05(to JL)+6 种基金Clinical Research Cen terfor Medical Imaging of Hunan Province,No.2020SK4001(to JL)Key Emergency Project of Pneumonia Epidemic of Novel Coronavirus Infection of Hu nan Province,No.2020SK3006(to JL)Innovative Special Construction Foundation of Hunan Province,No.2019SK2131(to JL)the Science and Technology lnnovation Program of Hunan Province,Nos.2021RC4016(to JL),2021SK53503(to ML)Scientific Research Program of Hunan Commission of Health,No.202209044797(to JL)Central South University Research Program of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,No.2023Q YJC020(to XK)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,No.2022JJ30814(to ML)。
文摘Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
文摘Local arterials can be significantly impacted by diversions from adjacent work zones. These diversions often occur on unofficial detour routes due to guidance received on personal navigation devices. Often, these routes do not have sufficien<span style="font-family:Verdana;">t sensing or communication equipment to obtain infrastructure-based tra</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ffic signal performance measures, so other data sources are required to identify locations being significantly affected by diversions. This paper examines the network impact caused by the start of an 18-month closure of the I-65/70 interchange (North Split), which usually serves approximately 214,000 vehicles per day in Indianapolis, IN. In anticipation of some proportion of the public diverting from official detour routes to local streets, a connected vehicle monitoring program was established to provide daily performances measures for over 100 intersections in the area without the need for vehicle sensing equipment. This study reports on 13 of the most impacted signals on an alternative arterial to identify locations and time of day where operations are most degraded, so that decision makers have quantitative information to make informed adjustments to the system. Individual vehicle movements at the studied locations are analyzed to estimate changes in volume, split failures, downstream blockage, arrivals on green, and travel times. Over 130,000 trajectories were analyzed in an 11-week period. Weekly afternoon peak period volumes increased by approximately 455%, split failures increased 3%, downstream blockage increased 10%, arrivals on green decreased 16%, and travel time increase 74%. The analysis performed in this paper will serve as a framework for any agency that wants to assess traffic signal performance at hundreds of locations with little or no existing sensing or communication infrastructure to prioritize tactical retiming and/or longer-term infrastructure investments.</span>
文摘Using questionnaire is a common, efficient and cheap way to collect data in population-based epidemiological studies. However, there is a general trend of declining response rates leading to a higher risk for bias affecting the validity of results. Use of anonymous questionnaires and/or other ways of distributions, e.g. via schools instead of postal, may increase response rates, but can also lead to other types of systematic errors. This study indicates that results from cross-sectional questionnaire studies differ depending on distribution method and whether the survey is anonymous or not. Also the official purpose of the survey may affect the outcome. When studying well-known risk-factors and health effects, potential methodological problems like reporting bias must be considered in cross sectional studies.
文摘The present study aims to understand changes in health problems, health complaints and coping strategies, during the obesity treatment process with qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty bariatric patients were interviewed before bariatric surgery and at a 12-month follow-up, and fulfilled self-report measures about health problems, health complaints and coping strategies before surgery, at 6-and 12-month follow-ups. Before surgery, failure cases differ from success on the conceptualization of obesity, However, there are no other differences between groups. At 6-and 12-month follow-ups, failure cases had the highest BMI, health problems and complaints and less % EWL than success cases. One year after the surgery, one in each three persons did not lose the expected weight, i.e., are failure cases. Before surgery, there are no differences between success and failure cases in the report of health problems, health complaints and coping strategies, but they have different conceptualizations of their obesity and treatment. One year after the surgery, success cases understood bariatric surgery as an important moment in their lives related to their expected results, whereas failures valued unexpected dimensions and still waiting for a miracle surgery without their personal commitment. Accordingly, it is necessary to consider lifestyle changes in the obesity treatment process.
文摘Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustained performance by using the Baldrige Excellence Framework (BEF). The “Balanced Score Cards” (BSC) methodology, as an instrument of designing, cascading and communicating strategy, was introduced in 1992. Operations excellence is an outcome of a well-designed, monitored and implemented operations strategy (OS). This paper traces the evolution of an “OS Wheel” model of operations strategy, for continuous manufacturing industries (CMI), deployed using the BEF, using BSC’s, to achieve performance excellence and sustained competitive advantage. The model was applied in a large scale, CMI company in India, over a period of fifteen years (a longitudinal study), the description of which will demonstrate its utility.
文摘Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-BNQA-SA was introduced in 1987 in US companies to create overall excellence in all parts of an organisation, leading to “integrated companies” as the ultimate goal for sustained performance by using the Baldrige Excellence Framework (BEF). The “Balanced Score Cards” (BSC) methodology, as an instrument of designing, cascading and communicating strategy, was introduced in 1992. Operations excellence is an outcome of a well-designed, monitored and implemented operations strategy (OS). This paper traces the evolution of an “OS Wheel” model of operations strategy, for continuous manufacturing industries (CMI), deployed using the BEF, using BSC’s, to achieve performance excellence and sustained competitive advantage. The model was applied in a large scale, CMI company in India, over a period of fifteen years (a longitudinal study), the description of which will demonstrate its utility.
文摘Over the past two decades,dialogic accounting research has evolved into a distinct field,expanding into what is now recognized as critical dialogic accounting and accountability(CDAA).The integration of critical dialogic accounting and accountability acknowledges the growing need to recognize diverse pathways within accounting practices,emphasizing the representation of marginalized perspectives,engagement with power dynamics,and the analysis of conflicts,particularly in the context of societal and environmental impacts.Based on these assumptions,the Integrated Popular Reporting(IPR)is intended as a useful practical dialogic tool designed to impartially represent the viewpoints of different stakeholders.The focus extends beyond traditional dialogic accounting,integrating a newer critical lens that explores the implications of digital technology in the reporting process.To explore these advancements,the study investigates the implementation of the City of Bari’s 2020 Integrated Popular Reporting.Leveraging tools such as Talkwalker and employing a longitudinal,interventionist approach along with semi-structured interviews,the study assesses the effects of digital technologies on the dialogic accounting process.The analysis shows that the use of digital technologies has facilitated a more participatory reporting structure,evident in increased citizen engagement and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.Notably,it has enhanced the accuracy of defining citizens’informational needs and addressed pertinent themes ranging from mobility,economy,digitization,regeneration,and employment.Moreover,it underscores the need to address the digital divide and ensure inclusivity across diverse demographics.Ultimately,it contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of technology in shaping the future of dialogic accounting and its broader implications for societal accountability.
文摘Background:In China,an indigenously developed electronic medication monitor(EMM)was designed and used in 138 counties from three provinces.Previous studies showed positive results on accuracy,effectiveness,acceptability,and feasibility,but also found some ineffective implementations.In this paper,we assessed the effect of implementation of EMMs on treatment outcomes.Methods:The longitudinal ecological method was used at the county level with aggregate secondary programmatic data.All the notified TB cases in 138 counties were involved in this study from April 2017 to June 2019,and rifampicinresistant cases were excluded.We fitted a multilevel model to assess the relative change in the quarterly treatment success rate with increasing quarterly EMM coverage rate,in which a mixed effects maximum likelihood regression using random intercept model was applied,by adjusting for seasonal trends,population size,sociodemographic and clinical characteristics,and clustering within counties.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally.Gastric intestinal metaplasia(GIM)is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer.The natural history of GIM formation and progression over time is not fully understood.Currently,there are no clear guidelines on GIM surveillance or management in the United States.AIM To investigate factors associated with GIM development over time in African American-predominant study population.METHODS This is a retrospective longitudinal study in a single tertiary hospital in Washington DC.We retrieved upper esophagogastroduodenoscopies(EGDs)with gastric biopsies from the pathology department database from January 2015 to December 2020.Patients included in the study had undergone two or more EGDswith gastric biopsy.Patients with no GIM at baseline were followed up until they developed GIM or until the last available EGD.Exclusion criteria consisted of patients age<18,pregnancy,previous diagnosis of gastric cancer,and missing data including pathology results or endoscopy reports.The study population was divided into two groups based on GIM status.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard induced by patient demographics,EGD findings,and Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)status on the GIM status.RESULTS Of 2375 patients who had at least 1 EGD with gastric biopsy,579 patients were included in the study.138 patients developed GIM during the study follow-up period of 1087 d on average,compared to 857 d in patients without GIM(P=0.247).The average age of GIM group was 64 years compared to 56 years in the non-GIM group(P<0.001).In the GIM group,adding one year to the age increases the risk for GIM formation by 4%(P<0.001).Over time,African Americans,Hispanic,and other ethnicities/races had an increased risk of GIM compared to Caucasians with a hazard ratio(HR)of 2.12(1.16,3.87),2.79(1.09,7.13),and 3.19(1.5,6.76)respectively.No gender difference was observed between the study populations.Gastritis was associated with an increased risk for GIM development with an HR of 1.62(1.07,2.44).On the other hand,H.pylori infection did not increase the risk for GIM.CONCLUSION An increase in age and non-Caucasian race/ethnicity are associated with an increased risk of GIM formation.The effect of H.pylori on GIM is limited in low prevalence areas.
基金This study was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China(No.16BGL183)This research uses data from China Health and Nutrition Survey+1 种基金The authors would like to thank the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety,China Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Carolina Population Center,the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,the National Institute for Health(R01-HD30880,DK056350,and R01-HD38700)the Fogarty International Center,NIH for financial support for the China Health and Nutrition Survey data collection and analysis files from 1989 to 2006 and both parties plus the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,Ministry of Health for support for China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009 and future surveys.
文摘Background:To examine the association between alcohol drinking and short sleep duration among Chinese adults.Methods:Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,28,167 records of 15,074 adults longitudinal data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey for the period from 2004 to 2011.A multilevel logistic regression model was employed to explore the association between alcohol drinking and sleep duration.Results:Compared with nondrinking participants,a high drinking frequency was positively correlated with a short sleep duration in both the males(odds ratio(OR)=1.33,95%confidence interval(CI)=1.20–1.48,P<0.001)and females(OR=1.60,95%CI=1.18–2.18,P=0.003)before the covariates were adjusted.After adjusting for age,residence area,education level,marital status,smoking,coffee consumption,tea consumption,and activity level,this association remained significant in the males(OR=1.31,95%CI=1.17–1.46,P<0.001)but not in the females(OR=1.16,95%CI=0.85–1.59,P=0.340).Conclusion:The present results suggest that a high drinking frequency was positively correlated with a short sleep duration in male population.Comprehensive measures therefore need to be implemented to improve sleep duration,especially to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol.
基金supported by the Shaanxi Natural Science Basic Research Plan Project(No.2021JM-498)。
文摘Objective:Depression appears to be common among the patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Therefore,how to comprehensively analyze the changes in depression and its impact on patient outcomes is an impor tant research direction.The objectives of this study were to assess changes in depression and whether depression can be used to predict outcomes in patients receiving hemodialysis.Methods:In a longitudinal study,317 patients receiving hemodialysis from two hospitals were investigated.Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMDS)at baseline.Outcomes data(survival and mor tality)were collected from baseline to the end of follow-up 2 years later.Mor tality was assessed using Cox propor tional hazards analysis.Results:The HAMDS score and percentage of high scores increased at three time points.Moreover,the changes were statistically significant.Surviving patients had significantly lower HAMDS scores.Through multivariate Cox regression analysis,age and depression can be used to predict mor tality(P<0.05),and the relative risks(RRs)were 1.032 and 1.069,respectively.Conclusions:Depression in patients receiving hemodialysis is worse.Moreover,baseline depression is an independent predictor of outcomes.Patients receiving hemodialysis should be focused on improving their psychological complications.A systematic and individual psychological health promotion plan must also be incorporated into the health education plan for patients receiving hemodialysis.
基金supported by grants from the Skaraborg County Council,the Swedish Dental Society,and the Swedish Patent Revenue Research Fund.
文摘This study aimed to assess whether birth weight is associated with dental caries during the teenage period. In this register-based cohort study, all children of 13 yrs of age (n = 18,142) who resided in the county of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000 were included. The cohort was followed until individuals were 19 yrs of age. Information regarding dental caries was collected from the Public Health Care Administration in Stockholm. Data concerning prenatal and perinatal factors and parental socio-demographic determinants were collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register and National Registers at Statistics Sweden. The final logistic regression model showed that birth weight (≥4000 g), adjusted for potential confounders, was significantly associated with caries increment (DMFT ≥ 1) between 13 and 19 yrs of age (OR: 1.29, 95% CI = 1.13 - 1.48). The relatively enhanced risk OR was further increased from 1.29 to 1.52 in sub- jects with birth weight (≥4600 g). On the contrary, subjects with birth weight (<2500 g) exhibited a sig- nificantly lower risk (OR: 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50 - 0.89) for exhibiting caries experience (DMFT ≥4) at 19 yrs of age. In conclusion, birth weight can be regarded as a predictor for dental caries and birth weight (≥4000 g) is especially a risk factor for caries increment during adolescence.
基金Seniors’ Independence Research Program, through Health Canada’s NHRDPMedical Research Council+4 种基金Pfizer Canada Inc. through the MRC/PMAC, NHRDPB.C. Health Research FoundationCIHRMerck-FrosstJansen-Ortho
文摘Personality change is among criteria for the diagnosis of dementia. We examine first whether personality changes are related to severity of cognitive impairment in a linear or an inverted-U fashion in 1132 demented older people from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) and 921 unimpaired older people. The proportion with reported change was larger for all measures in the demented group than in the cognitively unimpaired group, and was more consistent with a linear increase in personality change with increasing cognitive impairment than with an inverted-U relationship, as seen in only one variable. In our second (longitudinal) study, we evaluate which aspects of personality change most in dementia;changes in mood and an exaggeration of existing traits were the variables most closely related to the development of dementia.
文摘Often in longitudinal studies, some subjects complete their follow-up visits, but others miss their visits due to various reasons. For those who miss follow-up visits, some of them might learn that the event of interest has already happened when they come back. In this case, not only are their event times interval-censored, but also their time-dependent measurements are incomplete. This problem was motivated by a national longitudinal survey of youth data. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method based on expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is used for parameter estimation. Then missing information principle is applied to estimate the variance-covariance matrix of the MLEs. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method works well in terms of bias, standard error, and power for samples of moderate size. The national longitudinal survey of youth 1997 (NLSY97) data is analyzed for illustration.
文摘Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From 2004 to 2008,we evaluated QoL longitudinally in 128 DTC subjects.During scheduled examinations,subjects were asked to undergo a semi-structured psychiatric interview and five rated inventories.The same examination was conducted in 219 subjects after surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Low scores represent a better QoL.DTC and control subjects were similar in terms of age,male/female ratio,concomitant psychopharmacological treatments,and frequency of psychiatric diseases.In DTC subjects,Billewicz scale(BS) scores showed an increasing trend over time,especially among females.The ad hoc thyroid questionnaire(TQ) scores were similar in both groups and did not change over time,but at the end of the study ad hoc TQ and BS were significantly related.Ad hoc TQ scores were also related to age on entry to the study.In both male and female DTC subjects,Hamilton's tests for anxiety(HAM-A) ,but not for depression(HAM-D),showed an improving trend.At the end of the study,HAM-A and HAM-D scores were comparable to those of the control group.HAM-A and HAM-D were both positively correlated with the stage of cancer and the time between diagnosis and treatment.Only HAM-D correlated with age on entry to the study.Kellner symptom questionnaire(KSQ) item scores were higher in DTC subjects than in controls.The change over time in the items including anxiety,somatization,depression,and hostility was significant.Somatization and hostility were more significantly reduced in DTC females than in DTC males.Hostility scores were significantly lower in DTC subjects than in controls at the end of the study.Somatization and depression were significantly related to staging on diagnosis and age on entry to the study.Our study confirms a wide variation of illness perception in DTC subjects,which is generally unrelated to the favorable clinical follow-up of the disease.Psychological evaluation during long-term follow-up im-proved QoL scores,which reached the same levels noted in subjects with a history of thyroid surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Our data indicate that special attention should be paid to QoL in older DTC subjects and those with more severe staging on diagnosis.
基金The National Heart,Lung and Blood Institute(R01HL121230)the National Institute of Aging(R03AG060619)+1 种基金the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health(P20GM109036)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81803254)。
文摘Importance:The impact of long-term burden of excessive body weight,beginning in childhood,on inflammatory status in adulthood has been poorly described.Objective:To characterize the longitudinal body mass index(BMI)trajectory from childhood and examine its relationship with inflammatory status in adulthood.Methods:We included 1285 adults who had 4-15 repeat measurements of BMI from childhood to adulthood.The area under the curve(AUC)of growth curves was calculated to characterize long-term burden(total AUC)and trends(incremental AUC)of BMI.Results:After adjusting for covariates,higher values of BMI in terms of childhood and adulthood,as well as total and incremental AUC,were strongly associated with elevated levels of adult C-reactive protein(CRP)in the four race-sex groups.There were significant differences in linear and nonlinear curve parameters between the normal and high CRP groups for all race-sex groups(P<0.01).Compared with participants who had consistently low BMI in both childhood and adulthood,participants with high BMI in adulthood had higher CRP levels(P<0.001),irrespective of their childhood BMI status;participants with high BMI in childhood but low BMI in adulthood had similar adult CRP levels.Interpretation:The impact of excessive body weight on inflammation is cumulative and exacerbated over time.The influence of childhood overweight/obesity on inflammatory status in adulthood can be alleviated by reducing adiposity in adulthood.
