Surveillance of Non-Malignant Asbestos-Related Diseases in an Exposed Population: A Scoping Review.

Social Media Posts and Search Engine Queries as the Canary in the Coal Mine for Public Health Surveillance

Quality of Life and Depression in CKD: Improving Hope and Health

Background The global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing, and the risk of lung cancer in these patients is high. The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in COPD patients could help to decrease potential lung cancer risk. We planned to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the role of ICS in the risk of lung cancer among COPD patients. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library and a manual search of the list of references were conducted. Studies with cohort, case-control, and randomized clinical trial designs for any ICS use reporting the incidence/hazard ratio (HR) of lung cancer were included. The random-effects model was used to pool hazard ratios. Subgroup analysis and metaregression analysis were employed. Funnel plot and Egger regression test were used to assess publication bias. Results Combining the results of 14 observations, the pooled HR for cancer risk reduction was 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.79), p value ≤ 0.001. The use of ICS in COPD patients showed a 31% reduction in the risk of lung cancer. Subgroup meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in the risk of lung cancer as well. Conclusion The use of ICS in COPD patients reduces the risk of lung cancer. The risk reduction was independent of smoking status and latency period. Future studies should focus on the optimum dose and controlling confounders like asthma.

Anemia affects more than 1.9 billion people globally, with pregnant women being among the most vulnerable. Pallor, a visible sign of reduced hemoglobin levels, is frequently used as a low-cost screening tool, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to assess the validity of clinical pallor signs for detecting anemia among pregnant women. A scoping review was conducted utilizing multiple databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The review followed the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines and was systematically structured according to the PEO framework. Out of 812 articles identified, seven selected studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included in the review. The selected studies involved 1,847 participants from countries including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka. This review found a significant association between physical pallor examination of the conjunctiva, buccal mucosa or tongue, and palms with anemia in both pregnant women and women of reproductive age (p<0.001). This review reported that conjunctival, nailbed, tongue/buccal mucosa, palm pallor, and pallor at any site demonstrated a broad range sensitivity and specificity values ranging from above 0% to 100%. However, the combined pallor examination of the conjunctiva, buccal mucosa or tongue, nail beds, and palms tends to demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity (≥70%) in detecting anemia. Therefore, combined pallor assessment is recommended for future research. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to standardize examiner skills, lighting conditions, skin pigmentation considerations, pallor grading systems, and inter-rater reliability analysis. Pallor examination remains a useful initial screening method for detecting moderate to severe anemia in pregnant women in resource-limited settings.

Understanding gender-based violence perpetration to create a safer future for women and girls.

Roentgenographic Underestimation of Early Asbestosis

HOW LITTLE IS ENOUGH? THE EVIDENCE FOR POST-VASECTOMY TESTING

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the United States and, indeed, worldwide. It has become a global public health issue. In the United States, the prevalence in the general population is estimated at approximately 20%, while that in the morbidly obese population at approximately 75-92% and in the pediatric population at approximately 13-14%. The progressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is estimated at approximately 3-5%, with approximately 3-5% of these having progressed to cirrhosis. Thus, the numbers of individuals at risk for end-stage liver disease and development of primary liver cancer is large. NAFLD is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, leads to increased all-cause mortality, and to increased liver-related mortality. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the NAFLD disease spectrum, including etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic and environmental risk factors and suggests future directions for research in this important area.

Commentary: Left ventricular assist device infections and epidemiologic literature—still more work to be done

Non-ulcer Dyspepsia and Duodenal Eosinophilia: An Adult Endoscopic Population-Based Case-Control Study

Isolation strategies of regulatory T cells for clinical trials: Phenotype, function, stability, and expansion capacity

Questionnaires to Assess Urinary and Anal Incontinence: Review and Recommendations

RISK OF LUNG CANCER AND MESOTHELIOMA ASSOCIATED WITH OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS

The management of mental health conditions may deteriorate in adolescents during the transition from adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services. This study aimes to assess the impact of interventions and transition programs on treatment continuity and mental health outcomes for individuals moving between these services. A scoping review was conducted using the descriptors "Child Psychiatry", "Adolescent Psychiatry", "Transition to Adult Care", "Mental Health Services", and "Continuity of Patient Care" in Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, LILACS, and CUIDEN, from October to December 2023. Studies of any design published in English and Spanish were included, with no time restrictions. The quality of the studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Eight studies were included (two reviews, four qualitative studies, and two cohort studies), with quality ratings ranging from moderate to excellent. Only 23.5% of young people experienced a successful transition, with many facing delays and reduced long-term follow-up. Key factors for a successful transition included the transfer of information, parallel care, and the involvement of patients and family, while voluntary discharge and prior drug use before hospitalization hindered the transition process. To optimize the continuity of care during the transition from child/adolescent to adult mental health services, key strategies include the transfer of information, parallel care, and active participation. Implementing coordinated measures that address barriers, reduce delays, and enhance follow-up is essential. A proactive, individualized, and collaborative approach involving patients, families, and professionals is necessary to ensure comprehensive and effective care.

Background: Pleural abnormality is the the most common respiratory change caused by asbestos dust inhalation and also develop other asbestos related disease after cessation of asbestos exposure. So we conducted epidemiologic study to investigate if the pleural abnormality is associated with pulmonary function change and what factors are influenced on pulmonary function impairment. Methods: Two hundred and twenty two asbestos workers from 9 industries using asbestos in Korea were selected to measure the concentration of sectional asbestos fiber. Ouestionnaire, chest X-ray, PFT were also performed. All the data were analyzed by student t-test and chi-square test using SAS. Regressional analysis was performed to evaluate important factors, for example smoking, exposure concentration, period and the existence of pleural thickening, affecting to the change of pulmonary function. Results: 1) All nine industries except two, airborn asbestos fiber concentration was less than an average permissible concentration. PFT was performed on 222 workers and the percentage of male was 88.3%, their mean age was years old, and the duration of asbestos exposure was yrs. 2) The chest X-ray showed normal(89.19%), pulmonary Tb(inactive)(2.7%), pleral thickening (7.66%), suspected reticulonodular shadow(0.9%). 3) The mean values of height, smoking status, concentration of asbestos fiberwere not different between the subjects with pleural thickening and others, but age, cumulative pack-years, the duration of asbestos exposure were higher in subjects with pleural thickening. 4) All the PFT indices were lower in the subjects with pleural thickening than in the subjects without pleural thickening. 5) Simple regression analysis showed there was a significant correlation between which is sensitive in small airway obstruction and cumulative smoking pack-years, the duration of asbestos exposure and the concentration of asbestos fiber. 6) Multiple regression analysis showed all the pulmonary function indices were decreased as the increase of cumulative smoking pack-years and especially in the indices those are sensitive in small airway obstruction. Pleural thickening was associated with reduction in FVC, , PEFR and . Conclusion: The more concentration of asbestos fiber and the more duration of asbestos exposure, the greater reduction in , . Therefore PFT was important in the evaluation of early detection for small airway obstruction. Furthermore pleural thickening without asbesto-related parenchymal lung disease is associated with reduction in pulmonary function.