The objective was to quantify the relationship between deprivation and national breast cancer screening programme (NBCSP) participation at an ecological level in mainland France.
Data from 4,805,390 ...women—living in 36,209 municipalities within 95 departments—participating in the 2013–2014 NBCSP were analysed using the French Deprivation Index (FDep). FDep population quintiles by municipality were computed to describe NBCSP participation according to deprivation. To better examine the relationship between continuous value of deprivation index and participation rates at the municipality level, we built a generalized linear mixed model.
Geographical variations in participation rates were marked. The national standardized participation rate was higher in the intermediate quintiles (55%), 45% for the least deprived one and 52% for the most deprived one. Using our model, we also obtained an inverted U-curve for the relationship between NBCSP participation and municipality deprivation: participation was lower for both the least and most deprived municipalities. This relationship was also observed for each of the two subpopulations—urban municipalities and rural ones—considered separately. Introducing the FDep in the model reduced slightly the unexplained variations in participation rates between departments and between municipalities (with a proportional change in variance of 14% and 12% respectively).
We highlight major disparities in departmental participation rates and FDep/participation profiles. However, deprivation appears to have only little influence on geographical variation in participation rates. There is a need to further understand the factors affecting geographical variation in participation rates, in particular the use of opportunistic screening.
•Programme participation rates were lower in both the least and most deprived areas.•Profiles of the link between deprivation and participation varied among departments.•Deprivation had low impact on geographical variation in participation rates.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Background/Aims: To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 2021, this study investigated the national core ...indicators representing the current status of viral hepatitis B and C in South Korea.
Methods: We analyzed the incidence, linkage-to-care, treatment, and mortality rates of HBV and HCV infection using the integrated nationwide big data of South Korea.
Results: According to data from 2018-2020, the incidence of acute HBV infection in South Korea was 0.71 cases per 100,000 population; tthe linkage-to-care rate was only 39.4%. Among those who need hepatitis B treatment, the treatment rate was 67.3%, which was less than 80% reported in the WHO program index. The annual liver-related mortality due to HBV was 18.85 cases per 100,000 population, exceeding the WHO target of four; the most frequent cause of death was liver cancer (54.1%). The annual incidence of newly diagnosed HCV infection was 11.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was higher than the WHO impact target of five. Among HCV-infected patients, the linkage-to-care rate was 65.5% while the treatment rate was 56.8%, which were below the targets of 90% and 80%, respectively. The liver-related annual mortality rate due to HCV infection was 2.02 cases per 100,000 population.
Conclusions: Many of the current indicators identified in the Korean population did not satisfy the WHO criteria for validation of viral hepatitis elimination. Hence, a comprehensive national strategy should be urgently developed with continuous monitoring of the targets in South Korea. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2023;29:779-793)
Aims
To determine the barriers and enablers to regular, women‐oriented screening programmes for women with cerebral palsy (CP); and to discuss the participants’ suggestions for change.
Design
...Qualitative life course approach.
Methods
Twenty‐five life course interviews were conducted with women in 2020 who identified as having a diagnosis of CP. Interviews were conducted in person or using electronic platforms. Framework analysis was used to interpret the data.
Findings
Access and utilization of regular screening programmes for women with CP across the life course are determined by multiple socioecological factors. Three themes are discussed focusing particularly on cervical and breast screening: 1. barriers, 2. enablers and 3. women's suggestions for change. Some women chose to opt out of sexual health checks for fear they would be too uncomfortable or the procedure would be too difficult. Practitioner attitudes towards disability in general, as well as the extent to which they understood the effects of CP for women, was highlighted as a barrier. Accessibility and adaptability of the environment also influenced women's uptake of screening.
Conclusion
Women with CP face many challenges to their sexual and reproductive healthcare. These can deter them from participating in regular women‐oriented screening programmes, which puts them at higher risk of preventable diseases. Understanding the lifelong effects of CP for women, and the interaction with their reproductive health could help to reduce unmet needs and increase participation in relevant screening across the life course.
Impact
Knowledge of the challenges to regular screening programmes experienced by women with CP across the life course is crucial to provide appropriate preventative healthcare for women with CP across different stages of life. Elements of this knowledge could have benefits for the care of all disabled women.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Background: Screening for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is important to prevent severe foot complication, but the detection rate of DPN is unsatisfactory. We investigated whether SUDOSCAN ...combined with Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) could be an effective tool for screening for DPN in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in clinical practice.
Methods: We analysed the data for 144 people with T2DM without other cause of neuropathy. The presence of DPN was confirmed according to the Toronto Consensus criteria. Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) of the feet was assessed using SUDOSCAN. We compared the discrimination power of following methods, MNSI only vs. SUDOSCAN only vs. MNSI plus SUDOSCAN vs. MNSI plus 10-g monofilament test.
Results: Confirmed DPN was detected in 27.8% of the participants. The optimal cut-off value of feet ESC to distinguish DPN was 56 μS. We made the DPN screening scores using the corresponding odds ratios for MNSI-Questionnaire, MNSI-Physical Examination, SUDOSCAN, and 10-g monofilament test. For distinguishing the presence of DPN, the MNSI plus SUDOSCAN model showed higher areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) than MNSI only model (0.717 vs. 0.638, P=0.011), and SUDOSCAN only model or MNSI plus 10-g monofilament test showed comparable AUC with MNSI only model.
Conclusion: The screening model for DPN that includes both MNSI and SUDOSCAN can detect DPN with acceptable discrimination power and it may be useful in Korean patients with T2DM.
While there are many opportunities to use microalgae as antimicrobial agents, little has been done to develop them beyond the characterization phase to the biotechnology phase. One challenge when ...screening microalgae for antimicrobial activity is their ability to synthesize biologically active secondary metabolites in response to environmental triggers. In order to identify potential strains with good antimicrobial activity and to advance the development of microalgae as antimicrobial agents, a rigorous scientific approach is required. Microalgae are most commonly screened for antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion assay but this assay is problematic and produces false-positive and false-negative results. Quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values generated in assays such as the microdilution broth assay are more reproducible and enable comparison of results between research groups. For the present review, a dataset was compiled of published MIC values for microalgae. The Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta were the best represented and other phyla were under represented. This data was used for assessment of factors influencing antimicrobial activity, including test microorganisms, microalgae taxonomy, different solvents for extraction and the growth phase at harvest. Activity was considered good if MIC values were < 1 mg/mL, moderate if MIC values were 1–8 mg/mL and weak with MIC >8.0 mg/mL. Areas requiring more research are discussed including screening a greater diversity of species in appropriate assays, reporting negative results, testing the culture supernatant for activity, synergistic effects and identifying antimicrobial compounds in the Chlorophyta. The potential for successful development and commercialization of microalgae antimicrobial agents will increase as more microalgae are screened and compounds identified.
•Good microalgae species selection is vital if commercial applications are to succeed.•A dataset of antimicrobial MIC values in microalgae was compiled from the literature.•Only a small % of species have been screened using the microdilution broth assay.•Factors influencing activity e.g. taxonomy, solvent, culture age were assessed.•Areas requiring more research to improve species selection are discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background: A decrease in computed tomography (CT)-derived skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) reflects age-related ectopic fat infiltration of muscle, compromising muscle function and metabolism. We ...investigated the age-related trajectory of SMD and its association with vertebral trabecular bone density in healthy adults.
Methods: In a cohort of healthy adult kidney donors aged 19 to 69 years (n=583), skeletal muscle index (SMI, skeletal muscle area/height2), SMD, and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat (V/S) ratio were analyzed at the level of L3 from preoperative CT scans. Low bone mass was defined as an L1 trabecular Hounsfield unit (HU) <160 HU.
Results: L3SMD showed constant decline from the second decade (annual change -0.38% and -0.43% in men and women), whereas the decline of L3SMI became evident only after the fourth decade of life (-0.37% and -0.18% in men and women). One HU decline in L3SMD was associated with elevated odds of low bone mass (adjusted odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.13; P=0.003), independent of L3SMI, age, sex, and V/S ratio, with better discriminatory ability compared to L3SMI (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve 0.68 vs. 0.53, P<0.001). L3SMD improved the identification of low bone mass when added to age, sex, V/S ratio, and L3SMI (category-free net reclassification improvement 0.349, P<0.001; integrated discrimination improvement 0.015, P=0.0165).
Conclusion: L3SMD can be an early marker for age-related musculoskeletal changes showing linear decline throughout life from the second decade in healthy adults, with potential diagnostic value for individuals with low bone mass.
In January 2017, the Dutch cervical cancer screening programme transitioned from cytomorphological to primary high-risk HPV (hrHPV) DNA screening, including the introduction of self-sampling, for ...women aged between 30 and 60 years. The Netherlands was the first country to switch to hrHPV screening at the national level. We investigated the health impact of this transition by comparing performance indicators from the new hrHPV-based programme with the previous cytology-based programme.
We obtained data from the Dutch nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology (PALGA) for 454,573 women eligible for screening in 2017 who participated in the hrHPV-based programme between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2018 (maximum follow-up of almost 21 months) and for 483,146 women eligible for screening in 2015 who participated in the cytology-based programme between 1 January 2015 and 31 March 2016 (maximum follow-up of 40 months). We compared indicators of participation (participation rate), referral (screen positivity; referral rate) and detection (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) detection; number of referrals per detected CIN lesion).
Participation in the hrHPV-based programme was significantly lower than that in the cytology-based programme (61% vs 64%). Screen positivity and direct referral rates were significantly higher in the hrHPV-based programme (positivity rate: 5% vs 9%; referral rate: 1% vs 3%). CIN2+ detection increased from 11 to 14 per 1000 women screened. Overall, approximately 2.2 times more clinical irrelevant findings (i.e. ≤CIN1) were found in the hrHPV-based programme, compared with approximately 1·3 times more clinically relevant findings (i.e. CIN2+); this difference was mostly due to a national policy change recommending colposcopy, rather than observation, of hrHPV-positive, ASC-US/LSIL results in the hrHPV-based programme.
This is the first time that comprehensive results of nationwide implementation of hrHPV-based screening have been reported using high-quality data with a long follow-up. We have shown that both benefits and potential harms are higher in one screening round of a well-implemented hrHPV-based screening programme than in an established cytology-based programme. Lower participation in the new hrHPV programme may be due to factors such as invitation policy changes and the phased roll-out of the new programme. Our findings add further to evidence from trials and modelling studies on the effectiveness of hrHPV-based screening.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We performed a retrospective cohort study including people diagnosed with diabetes from 2006 to 2015 according to the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, to ...analyze the changes in the prevalence, screening rate, and treatment patterns for diabetic retinopathy (DR) over 10 years. The proportion of people who underwent fundus screening for DR steadily increased over the past decade. The prevalence of DR increased from 13.4% in 2006 to 15.9% in 2015, while that of proliferative DR steadily decreased from 1.29% in 2006 to 1.16% in 2015. The proportion of patients undergoing retinal photocoagulation constantly decreased. The prevalence of DR increased over the past decade, while its severity seemed to have improved, with a decreased rate of proliferative DR and retinal photocoagulation. A higher proportion of patients underwent ophthalmic screening using fundus examination, but still less than 30% of patients with diabetes underwent comprehensive examination in 2015.
Background: The definition of the high-risk group for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was changed from the criteria composed of ...five historic/demographic factors (old criteria) to the criteria consisting of 11 factors (new criteria) in 2017. To compare the predictive performances between these two sets of criteria.
Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a large prospective cohort study of non-diabetic Korean women with singleton pregnancies designed to examine the risk of GDM in women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Maternal fasting blood was taken at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation and measured for glucose and lipid parameters. GDM was diagnosed by the two-step approach.
Results: Among 820 women, 42 (5.1%) were diagnosed with GDM. Using the old criteria, 29.8% (n=244) of women would have been identified as high risk versus 16.0% (n=131) using the new criteria. Of the 42 women who developed GDM, 45.2% (n=19) would have been mislabeled as not high risk by the old criteria versus 50.0% (n=21) using the new criteria (1-sensitivity, 45.2% vs. 50.0%, P>0.05). Among the 778 patients who did not develop GDM, 28.4% (n=221) would have been identified as high risk using the old criteria versus 14.1% (n=110) using the new criteria (1-specificity, 28.4% vs. 14.1%, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Compared with the old criteria, use of the new criteria would have decreased the number of patients identified as high risk and thus requiring early GDM screening by half (from 244 29.8% to 131 16.0%).