Watch your step: Balance ability predicts cognitiveimpairment uoftsukuba
For a measurement using WBB, WBB was connected wirelessly with a Bluetooth adapter to a laptop computer. Raw data were collected simultaneously, stored and processed using custom-written software .Based on distribution, continuous variables were expressed as deviation or median and compared using the unpaired t-test or the Mann–Whitney test for two-group comparisons.
Regarding the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the VPS value and 01 classification for the presence or absence of MCI, the cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity, and area under of the curve for the presence or absence of MCI were calculated. The cutoff value was decided by the point where the Youdem Index reaches the maximum value. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics 26 . Statistical significance was considered at a value of < 0.05.
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Informed or misinformed consent and use of modified texture diets in dysphagia - BMC Medical EthicsBackground Use of modified texture diets—thickening of liquids and modifying the texture of foods—in the hope of preventing aspiration, pneumonia and choking, has become central to the current management of dysphagia. The effectiveness of this intervention has been questioned. We examine requirements for a valid informed consent process for this approach and whether the need for informed consent for this treatment is always understood or applied by practitioners. Main text Valid informed consent requires provision of accurate and balanced information, and that agreement is given freely by someone who knows they have a choice. Current evidence, including surveys of practitioners and patients in different settings, suggests that practice in this area is often inadequate. This may be due to patients’ communication difficulties but also poor communication—and no real attempt to obtain consent—by practitioners before people are ‘put on’ modified texture diets. Even where discussion occurs, recommendations may be influenced by professional misconceptions about the efficacy of this treatment, which in turn may poison the well for the informed consent process. Patients cannot make appropriate decisions for themselves if the information provided is flawed and unbalanced. The voluntariness of patients’ decisions is also questionable if they are told ‘you must’, when ‘you might consider’ is more appropriate. Where the decision-making capacity of patients is in question, inappropriate judgements and recommendations may be made by substitute decision makers and courts unless based on accurate information. Conclusion Research is required to examine the informed consent processes in different settings, but there is ample reason to suggest that current practice in this area is suboptimal. Staff need to reflect on their current practice regarding use of modified texture diets with an awareness of the current evidence and through the ‘lens’ of informed consent. Education is required
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Malaria and the incidence of COVID-19 in Africa: an ecological study - BMC Infectious DiseasesBackground It has been shown that stimulation of innate immunity may provide temporary protection against a variety of infectious diseases. Malaria has been shown to induce a robust innate immune response. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that if the cumulative number of cases diagnosed with COVID-19 per 100,000 population was correlated with the prevalence of malaria in African countries where both malaria and COVID-19 were prevalent. Methods In this ecological study, the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 and the prevalence of malaria were compared in 53 African countries. A negative binomial regression analysis with the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 as the dependent variable, and the human development index (HDI) and the prevalence of malaria, as independent variables, were used. Results The mean cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 522 cases per 100,000. Each 0.1 unit increase in HDI was associated with 2.4-fold (95% confidence interval 1.8–3.1) increase in the cumulative incidence of COVID-19. Prevalence of malaria was also independently associated with the cumulative incidence; each 10% increase in the prevalence was associated with 28% (10–41%) decrease in the cumulative incidence of COVID-19. Conclusions Malaria might protect people against SARS-CoV-2 through the stimulation of innate immunity. Stimulation of the innate immune system could be the first line of defense in the pandemic preparedness arsenal.
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On the effectiveness of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns: Pan metron ariston - BMC Public HealthBackground Early evaluations of the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) mandates were constrained by the lack of empirical data, thereby also limiting model sophistication (e.g., models did not take into account the endogeneity of key variables). Methods Observational analysis using a behavioral four-equation structural model that accounts for the endogeneity of many variables and correlated unobservable country characteristics. The dataset includes information from 132 countries from February 15, 2020, to April 14, 2021, with data on confirmed cases and deaths, mobility, vaccination and testing rates, and NPI stringency. The main outcomes of interest are the growth rates of confirmed cases and deaths. Results There were strongly decreasing returns to more stringent NPI mandates. No additional impact was found for NPI mandates beyond a Stringency Index range of 51–60 for cases and 41–50 for deaths. A nonrestrictive policy of extensive and open testing constituted 51% [27% to 76%] of the impact on pandemic dynamics of the optimal NPIs. Reductions in mobility were found to increase, not decrease, both case $$\left( -0.0417,\left[ -0.0578,-0.0256\right] ,p|0.001\right)$$ - 0.0417 , - 0.0578 , - 0.0256 , p | 0.001 and death growth rates $$\left( -0.0162,\left[ -0.03,-0.002\right] ,p=0.025\right)$$ - 0.0162 , - 0.03 , - 0.002 , p=0.025 . More stringent restrictions on gatherings and international movement were found to be effective. Governments conditioned policy choices on recent pandemic dynamics, and were found to be more hesitant in de-escalating NPIs than they were in imposing them. Conclusion At least 90% of the maximum effectiveness of NPI mandates is attainable with interventions associated with a Stringency Index in the range of 31–40, which impose minimal negative social externalities. This was significantly less than the average stringency level of implemented policies around the world during the same time period.
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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and diabetic retinopathy: nationwide cohort and Mendelian randomization studies - BMC MedicineBackground The ability of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to decrease certain microvascular events has called for the investigation of GLP-1 RAs against diabetic retinopathy (DR), but the evidence is limited. By combining data from observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, we aimed to investigate whether GLP-1 RAs decrease the risk of DR. Methods We combined data from several Swedish Registers and identified patients with incident type 2 diabetes being treated with GLP-1 RAs between 2006 and 2015, and matched them to diabetic patients who did not use GLP-1 RAs as the comparisons. The Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the risk of DR. We further performed the summary-data-based MR (SMR) analyses based on the Genotype-Tissue Expression databases and the Genome-Wide Association Study of DR from the FinnGen consortium. Results A total of 2390 diabetic patients were treated with GLP-1 RAs and the incidence of DR was 5.97 per 1000 person-years. Compared with diabetic patients who did not use GLP-1 RAs having an incidence of 12.85 per 1000 person-years, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of DR was 0.42 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29–0.61]. Genetically-predicted GLP1R expression (the target of GLP-1 RAs) showed an inverse association with background [odds ratio (OR)=0.83, 95% CI, 0.71–0.97] and severe nonproliferative DR (OR=0.72, 95% CI, 0.53–0.98), and a non-significant association with overall (OR=0.97, 95% CI, 0.92–1.03) and proliferative DR (OR=0.98, 95% CI, 0.91–1.05). Conclusions Both observational and mendelian randomization analyses showed a significantly lower risk of DR for patients treated with GLP-1 RAs, which calls for further studies to validate these findings.
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New HBO Max movies: the biggest films to stream in February 2023These are our top picks of the new HBO Max movies that you need to add to your watchlist
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