An observational study of oral functions in patients aged from 20 to 49 years

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyze oral functions (MOF: maximum occlusal force; MTP: maximum tongue pressure; and MF: masticatory function) in Eichner A subjects aged from 20 to 49 years.

METHODS

The data of three oral functions in Eichner A patients aged from 20 to 49 years were extracted. The mean values, subjects with lower values than the thresholds, and the differences among ages, and between sexes were investigated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Although the mean values of these oral functions in 183 subjects were higher than the thresholds, the numbers of the subjects with lower values than the thresholds were 30 in MTP, 19 in MOF, and only three in MF. No significant effects of ages on all oral functions were identified and all functions in males were significantly higher than those in females. The subjects whose two functions were lower than the thresholds were nine females, eight of whom were associated with malalignment.

CONCLUSION

Although the mean values of oral functions were higher than the thresholds, some patients showed lower values, especially in MOF and MTP, even though they were unaware of any inconvenience. Patients with malalignment might be associated with declined oral functions.

Exploring the risk factors of impaired fasting glucose in middle-aged population living in South Korean communities by using categorical boosting machine

Objective

This epidemiological study (1) identified factors associated with impaired fasting glucose using 3,019 subjects (≥30 years old and <60 years old) without diabetes mellitus from national survey data and (2) developed a nomogram that could predict groups vulnerable to impaired fasting glucose by using machine learning.

Methods

This study analyzed 3,019 adults between 30 and 65 years old who completed blood tests, physical measurements, blood pressure measurements, and health surveys. Impaired fasting glucose, a dependent variable, was classified into normal blood glucose (glycated hemoglobin<5.7% and fasting blood glucose ≤ 100mg/dl) and impaired fasting glucose (glycated hemoglobin is 5.7-6.4% and fasting blood glucose is 100-125mg/dl). Explanatory variables included socio-demographic factors, health habit factors, anthropometric factors, dietary habit factors, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study developed a model for predicting impaired fasting glucose by using logistic nomogram and categorical boosting (CatBoost).

Results

In this study, the top eight variables with a high impact on CatBoost model output were age, high cholesterol, WHtR, BMI, drinking more than one shot per month for the past year, marital status, hypertension, and smoking.

Conclusion

It is necessary to improve lifestyle and continuously monitor subjects at the primary medical care level so that we can detect non-diabetics vulnerable to impaired fasting glucose living in the community at an early stage and manage their blood glucose.

Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives of Patients' Experiences of the Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes in the Rural Areas of Pakistan: A Qualitative Analysis

The main objective of this research work was to explore the healthcare professionals’ perspectives of type 2 diabetes patients’ experiences of self-management of diabetes in the rural area of Pakistan. In this study, we have carried out a methodological approach to use a self-management framework to direct the interview guide for healthcare professionals to examine their perceptions and expectations of their diabetes patients’ adherence to the medications prescribed. Twenty healthcare professionals were recruited in this study consisting of ten general practitioners and ten nurses from various clinics (medical centres) of Al-Rehman Hospital at Abbottabad, Pakistan. This qualitative study explored the feelings and opinions of general practitioners on patients’ compliance and adherence by using the semi-structured interview guide using a methodological framework. All interviews of participants were audiotaped and transcribed for content analysis. Six major themes were identified: patient–doctor relationship; patient’s non-adherence to diet and exercise; conflicts with the patients; low self-efficacy and feeling of “resignation with poor care”; the influence of culture on patients’ self-management activities and lack of support for patients by health care providers, patients, and their families. We have derived relevant solutions from qualitative studies and considered that communication, tailored, and shared care is the best approach for patient adherence to treatment. GPs felt that a structured consultation and follow-up in a multidisciplinary team might help to increase adherence. The results of this qualitative health research highlighted the challenges healthcare professionals are facing in rural Pakistan in managing patients with type 2 diabetes and supporting their management activities. Healthcare professionals and patients may benefit by adopting a methodological framework approach to ensure meaningful participation and adjusting the patient–doctor relationship, and setting up achievable management and self-management goals.

Health Benefits of Nut Consumption in Middle-Aged and Elderly Population

Aging is considered the major risk factor for most chronic disorders. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are two major contributors for cellular senescence, downregulation of stress response pathways with a decrease of protective cellular activity and accumulation of cellular damage, leading in time to age-related diseases. This review investigated the most recent clinical trials and cohort studies published in the last ten years, which presented the influence of tree nut and peanut antioxidant diets in preventing or delaying age-related diseases in middle-aged and elderly subjects (≥55 years old). Tree nut and peanut ingestion has the possibility to influence blood lipid count, biochemical and anthropometric parameters, endothelial function and inflammatory biomarkers, thereby positively affecting cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality, cancers, and cognitive disorders, mainly through the nuts’ healthy lipid profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of actions. Clinical evidence and scientific findings demonstrate the importance of diets characterized by a high intake of nuts and emphasize their potential in preventing age-related diseases, validating the addition of tree nuts and peanuts in the diet of older adults. Therefore, increased consumption of bioactive antioxidant compounds from nuts clearly impacts many risk factors related to aging and can extend health span and lifespan.

Association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and atrial fibrillation among a middle-aged population: a nationwide population-based cohort

AIMS

It remains inconclusive whether the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in middle-aged Asian populations. In this study, we evaluated the association between NSAID use and the risk of AF in a nationwide population-based study of middle-aged individuals in Taiwan.

METHODS

A nested case-control study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. We identified the cases with a diagnosis of AF (ICD-9-CM codes: 427.31) and the matched controls from three independent Longitudinal Health Insurance Databases (LHIDs) derived from the NHIRD from data collected from 2001 to 2013. Conditional logistic regression models with covariate adjustment were performed to evaluate the association between NSAID use and the risk of AF.

RESULTS

A total of 57 058 participants (28 529 AF cases and 28 529 matched controls) were included. Participants with NSAID use had an elevated risk of AF compared to non-users [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-1.23]. When further assessing the effects of different classes of NSAIDs on the risk of AF, the results showed that participants who used non-selective NSAIDs had a significantly elevated risk of AF (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.13-1.23), as did participants with a combined use of selective and non-selective NSAIDs (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.21-1.39).

CONCLUSIONS

NSAID use was associated with an increased risk of AF occurrence among the participants included in our study cohort. Closely monitoring the adverse effects of NSAID treatment on the risk of AF will be important, particularly among individuals at high risk.

Dietary patterns associated hyperuricemia among Chinese aged 45 to 59 years: An observational study

In our literature research, we have not found any study reporting the association between the major dietary patterns and the risk of hyperuricemia in a middle-aged Chinese population. Herein, the present study aimed to evaluate the association of dietary patterns with the risk of hyperuricemia in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, East China. We included 1204 participants (743 males and 461 females) aged 45 to 59 years in the present cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in 2014 to 2016. All biochemical data and anthropometric measurements were collected following standardized procedures. Dietary patterns were determined by using factor analysis. We examined the associations between major dietary patterns and hyperuricemia risk by log-binominal regression analysis, and the results are presented as prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence interval (CI). Three major dietary patterns were identified by means of factor analysis: traditional Chinese, meat food, and mixed food patterns. After controlling for potential confounders, subjects in the highest quartile of the traditional Chinese pattern scores had a lower PR for hyperuricemia (PR = 0.82; 95%CI: 0.426-0.922), in comparison to those from the lowest quartile, while compared with the lowest quartile of the meat food pattern, the highest quartile had a greater PR for hyperuricemia (PR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.120-2.097). Besides, no association was observed between mixed food pattern and the risk of hyperuricemia.Our findings indicate that the traditional Chinese pattern is associated with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia, and the meat food pattern is associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, whereas the mixed food pattern shows no association with the risk of hyperuricemia. Further large prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Association between Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Hypertension among Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Study

Epidemiological studies of different dietary patterns and the risk of hypertension among a middle-aged Chinese population remain extremely scare. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns and investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of hypertension among Chinese adults aged 45-60 years. The present cross-sectional study includes 2560 participants who reported their dietary intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized procedures. We used log-binomial regression analysis to examine the associations between dietary patterns and hypertension risk. Four major dietary patterns were identified and labeled as traditional Chinese, animal food, western fast-food, and high-salt patterns. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the highest quartile of animal food pattern scores had a greater prevalence ratio (PR) for hypertension (PR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.064-1.727; p < 0.05) in comparison to those from the lowest quartile. Compared with the lowest quartile of high-salt pattern, the highest quartile had a higher prevalence ratio for hypertension (PR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.013-1.635; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that animal food and high-salt patterns were associated with increased risk of hypertension, while traditional Chinese and western fast-food patterns were not associated with the risk of hypertension. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.