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Depiction regarding lesions on the skin inside the stomach: will confocal laser endomicroscopy replace the pathologist?
Purpose The objectives of this study were to assess second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients at home, in transportation, workplace, public and social places; to examine the demographic factors that predict SHS exposure; and to investigate the relationship between SHS exposure and CHD complications, age at the time of diagnosis, and number of admissions in the last year. Patients and Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was used with a convenient sample of 400 CHD patients from three hospitals in Jordan. A modified version of the Smoking Scale for Adults (SS-A) was used. Results The percentage of SHS exposure was 64% in public places, 51.5% in social places, 48.5% in the household, 31% in transportation, while it was only 14.8% in the workplace. In addition, being male, employed, having a younger age and lower education significantly predicted higher exposure to SHS. BI-2852 datasheet Exposure to SHS was positively associated with CHD complications and the number of admissions, while it was negatively associated with the age at diagnosis with CHD. Conclusion Collaboration is needed among all health care sectors to adopt educational strategies about SHS exposure and to activate policies to prohibit smoking in public places. © 2020 Abu-Baker et al.Background Mental distress is a range of symptoms and experiences of a person's internal life that are commonly held to be troubling, confusing or out of the ordinary. Mental distress often interferes with studying, social interaction, and academic outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence of mental distress and factors associated with it among undergraduate engineering students at Hawassa University. Methods We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional descriptive study on undergraduate engineering students at Hawassa University. We collected the data from January to April 30, 2018, using interviewer-administered Self-Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20) from 341 participants selected by stratified sampling and we performed multiple logistic regression analysis to find factors associated with mental distress. Results Out of the total study population, 222 (65.1%) were males, and 172 (50.4%) were age ≥21. We found the prevalence of mental distress using SRQ-20 with a cut-off point ≥8 to be 28.7%. Female students were 2.9 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to male students (AOR= 2.90, 95% CI 1.52-5.50). Facing financial problem (AOR= 2.20; CI = 1.25-3.85), poor social support (AOR= 2.58, 95% CI 1.51-4.42), lack of interest in their field of study (AOR=2.57; CI 1.23-5.38) and unresolved conflict with roommate (AOR= 2.29, 95% CI 1.08-4.00) were significant predictors of mental distress. Conclusion This study showed a high prevalence of mental distress among engineering students. So, policymakers, university officials, and parents need to give due attention to engineering undergraduate students for proactive measures. © 2020 Reta et al.Background Obesity and osteoporosis are two conditions that are associated with morbidity and mortality; there is contradictory evidence regarding this association. Purpose The aim of the current study was to explore further the association between obesity and calcaneus stiffness index (CSI), as a measure of bone density, in a community-based cross-sectional study in an Egyptian population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among active subjects, aged ≥20 years old, over one year. CSI was measured by Quantitative ultrasound (QUS), in addition; QUS T-score and Z-score of the non-dominant heel scan were recorded. Results Two hundred and eighty participants were recruited; 7 subjects were excluded because of Z score more than -2, mean age was 61 (± 11.9) years, and mean BMI was 29.7 (±5.6). Female participants were 77.7%, with mean of age 60.3 (± 11.6); and age range 20-82 years. Male participants were 22.3%, with mean of age 63.6 (± 12.7); and age range 30-80 years. Older subjects (>55 years) had significantly lower CSI and worse T-score than the younger subjects (P less then 0.001 for both). In the younger age group, BMI was not significantly associated with CSI, even after adjustment for gender (P= 0.52). However, in the older age group, BMI was significantly associated with stiffness index (P= 0.049, O.R.= 1.73), even after adjustment for gender (P= 0.041, O.R.= 1.7). Conclusion Compared to young subjects, older subjects (≥55 years) had significantly lower bone strength as measured by CSI, and their BMI was significantly positively associated with bone density. In younger people ( less then 55 years), BMI was not associated with bone strength. © 2019 Ali et al.[This corrects the article DOI 10.2147/TCRM.S236498.]. © 2020 Li et al.Aim Current major guidelines recommend risk stratification of the thyroid nodules, after each diagnostic evaluation, in order to focus attention on potentially risky nodules. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the performance of combined advanced ultrasound techniques in this process, compared with conventional stratification models, in order to reduce unnecessary fine-needle biopsies, respectively, surgery. Material and Methods We evaluated 261 cases (261 nodules) using conventional ultrasound (2B), real-time Doppler evaluation (4D) respectively, real-time elastography, using a linear multifrequency probe and a linear volumetric probe (Hitachi Prerius Machine, Hitachi Inc, Japan). All the nodules were classified using a risk stratification model comprising seven conventional US characteristics, two 4 D characteristics and a color map RTE aspect. The results were compared with the pathology results, considered the golden standard diagnosis. Results The prevalence of malignant nodules was 21.83% (57 cases). Conventional risk classification generated 106 low-risk cases, 113 intermediate-risk and 42 high-risk cases. Our proposed risk classification changes the conventional risk classification with a risk upgrade in 27 cases and with a risk downgrade in 69 cases. The diagnostic quality of the combined risk stratification model was better, considering a low-risk category predictive for benignancy and a high category predictive for malignancy Sensitivity 80.88% versus 49.01%, respectively, Specificity 91.22% versus 54.38. The diagnostic power differences were observed regardless of the nodule size. Conclusion Advanced ultrasound techniques did add diagnostic value in the presurgical risk assessment of the thyroid nodules. © 2020 Stoian et al.
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