Google Trends (GT) is a useful real-time surveillance tool for epidemic outbreaks such as monkeypox (Mpox). GT provides hour-by-hour (real-time) data for the last seven days of Google searches. ...Non-real-time data are a random sample that encompasses search trends from 2004 and up to 72 h. Google Health Trends (GHT) API extracts daily raw search probabilities relative to the time period and size of the underlying population. However, little is known about the utility of GT real-time surveillance and GHT API following the public health announcements. Thus, this study aimed to analyzed Mpox GT real-time, non-real-time, and GHT API data 72 h before and after the WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in the top five Mpox-affected countries. Joinpoint regression was used to measure hourly percentage changes (HPC) in search volume. The WHO PHEIC statement on Mpox generated 18,225.6 per 10 million Google searches in the U.S. and Germany (946.8), and in 0–4 h, the HPC increased by an average of 103% (95% CI: 37.4–200.0). This study showed the benefits of real-time surveillance and the GHT API for monitoring online demand for information on emerging infectious diseases such as Mpox.
Propolis is a resin-like substance collected by honeybees from certain plants that have been shown to positive effect on inflammatory factors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically ...review and meta-analyse the effects of Propolis supplementation on CRP, TNF-a, IL-1, and IL-6 in Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). A comprehensive systematic search of articles was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of sciences, and Scopus to identify the potential titles up to August 2019. PRISMA guidelines were performed for this study. Inclusion was 1-study design was parallel or cross over randomized controlled trial (RCT), 2- consumption of Propolis as intervention, 3- reported sufficient information about inflammatory factors, CRP, IL1, IL6, TNF-a. Six studies were identified by comprehensive search. This meta-analysis study found a significant reduction in IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α following Propolis consumption (Weighted mean differences (WMD): −17.96 pg/ml, 95% CI: −35.53, −0.38, I2 = 98%), (WMD: −1.16 pg/ml, 95% CI: −2.28, −0.03, I2 = 97%), and (WMD: −34.08 pg/ml, 95% CI: −60.25, −7.91, I2 = 97%), respectively. Propolis did not showed any significant effect on IL-1 (WMD: −17.36 pg/ml, 95% CI: −37.60, 2.87, I2 = 97%). In conclusion, the results demonstrated that CRP, TNF-a and IL-6 were significantly reduced following propolis supplementation.
Background
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescents and young adults to prevent HPV-related cancers and genital warts. However, HPV vaccine uptake among the target age ...groups is suboptimal.
Objective
The aim of this infodemiology study was to examine public online searches in the United States related to the HPV vaccine from January 2010 to December 2021.
Methods
Google Trends (GT) was used to explore online searches related to the HPV vaccine from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. Online searches and queries on the HPV vaccine were investigated using relative search volumes (RSVs). Analysis of variance was performed to investigate quarterly differences in HPV vaccine searches in each year from 2010 to 2021. A joinpoint regression was used to identify statistically significant changes over time; the α level was set to .05.
Results
The year-wise online search volume related to the HPV vaccine increased from 2010 to 2021, often following federal changes related to vaccine administration. Joinpoint regression analysis showed that HPV vaccine searches significantly increased on average by 8.6% (95% CI 5.9%-11.4%) across each year from 2010 to 2021. Moreover, HPV vaccine searches demonstrated a similar pattern across years, with search interest increasing through August nearly every year. At the state level, the highest 12-year mean RSV was observed in California (59.9, SD 14.3) and the lowest was observed in Wyoming (17.4, SD 8.5) during the period of 2010-2021.
Conclusions
Online searches related to the HPV vaccine increased by an average of 8.6% across each year from 2010 to 2021, with noticeable spikes corresponding to key changes in vaccine recommendations. We identified patterns across years and differences at the state level in the online search interest related to the HPV vaccine. Public health organizations can use GT as a tool to characterize the public interest in and promote the HPV vaccine in the United States.
Background No studies from the Arabian Gulf region have taken age into account when examining sex differences in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presentation and outcomes. We ...examined the relationship between sex differences and presenting characteristics, revascularization procedures, and in-hospital mortality after accounting for age in patients hospitalized with STEMI in the Arabian Gulf region from 2005 to 2017. Methods and Results This study was a pooled analysis of 31 620 patients with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome enrolled in 7 Arabian Gulf registries. Of these, 15 532 patients aged ≥18 years were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of STEMI. A multiple variable regression model was used to assess sex differences in revascularization, in-hospital mortality, and 1-year mortality. Odds ratios and 95% CIs were calculated. Women were, on average, 8.5 years older than men (mean age: 61.7 versus 53.2 years; absolute standard mean difference: 68.9%). The age-stratified analysis showed that younger women (aged <65 years) with STEMI were more likely to seek acute medical care and were less likely to receive thrombolytic therapies or primary percutaneous coronary intervention and guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy than men. Women had higher crude in-hospital mortality than men, driven mainly by younger age (46-55 years, odds ratio: 2.60 95% CI, 1.80-3.7;
<0.001; 56-65 years, odds ratio: 2.32 95% CI, 1.75-3.08;
<0.001; and 66-75 years, odds ratio: 1.79 95% CI, 1.33-2.41;
<0.001). Younger women had higher adjusted in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates than younger men (
<0.001). Conclusions Younger women (aged ≤65 years) with STEMI were less likely to receive guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy and revascularization than younger men during hospitalization and had higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates.
This study was conducted to compare the knowledge of aging and rational geriatric pharmacotherapy among Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students in Telangana state, ...India. A multi-school, cross-sectional study was conducted among final year BPharm and PharmD students from 136 institutions between February and June 2017. A 15-item Geriatric Knowledge Assessment Scale (GKAS) was used to assess aging and rational geriatric pharmacotherapy knowledge among 600 pharmacy students. A total of 530 students participated in the survey, with a response rate of 88.3%, and their mean age was 23.5 (0.5 standard deviation) years. Three-fourth (73%) of the participants were PharmD and 27% were BPharm students. Adequate knowledge about aging was identified in only 41.1% of PharmD students and 16.1% of BPharm students. Both PharmD (73.1%) and BPharm (86.7%) demonstrated poor rational geriatric pharmacotherapy knowledge. Male gender Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.9, 95% CI (1.46-5.71), students aged <22 years AOR: 3.5, (2.08-6.03) and studying PharmD AOR: 3.3, (1.87-5.78) were significantly associated with higher knowledge on aging and geriatric pharmacotherapy. Inadequate knowledge may be due to a lack of geriatric content in the pharmacy curriculum and insufficient training in this area.
Background and Aims: Attaining guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals (<70 mg/dl or ≥ 50% reduction) with statin therapy remains suboptimal after an acute coronary ...syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to assess the level of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) utilization and achievement of LDL-C targets after ACS hospitalization in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Methods: A retrospective, observational, longitudinal database analysis of Emirati patients with ACS or stable coronary heart disease was evaluated from January 2015 to June 2018. Patients were divided based on whether or not they were treated with LLT at index hospitalization with ACS. LDL-C target level achievement was assessed according to the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines.
Results: A total of 3,066 patients (mean age 65.5 ± 14 years) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 58.1% (n = 1782) of the patients in the cohort were on LLT during the ACS hospitalization. At discharge, the mean LDL-C level was 84.8 ± 39.0 mg/dl, and 28%, 21%, and 9% received high-, moderate-, and low-intensity statins, respectively. At 6 months (n = 2046; 66.7%), 27.7% and 16.7% achieved an LDL-C of <70 mg/dl and 70-100 mg/dl, respectively. The highest level of LDL-C reduction by 50% within 6 months was observed among patients using moderate-intensity statin (37.2%).
Conclusion: A large proportion of Emirati patients were not on LLT after ACS, and the rate of LDL-C target value attainment was extremely poor (27.7%). Optimal statin utilization by closely implementing the guidelines in the UAE is recommended.
Few studies have been conducted on multimorbidity (two or more chronic diseases) and rational geriatric prescribing in Africa. This study examined the prevalence and determinants of multimorbidity, ...polypharmacy (five or more long-term medications), and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use according to the 2019 Beers criteria among the older adults attending chronic care clinics from a single institution in Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 randomly selected older adults from 12 March 2020 to 30 August 2020. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictor variables. The prevalence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and PIM exposure was 59.1%, 24.1%, and 47.2%, respectively. Diuretics (10%), insulin sliding scale (8.8%), amitriptyline (7.8%), and aspirin (6.9%) were among the most frequently prescribed PIMs. Older patients experiencing pain flare-ups were more likely to have multimorbidity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.64, 95% confidence intervals: 1.13–2.39). Persistent anger (AOR: 3.33; 1.71–6.47) and use of mobility aids (AOR: 2.41, 1.35–4.28) were associated with polypharmacy. Moreover, cognitive impairment (AOR: 1.65, 1.15–2.34) and health deterioration (AOR: 1.61, 1.11–2.32) increased the likelihood of PIM exposure. High prevalence of multimorbidity and PIM use was observed in Ethiopia. Several important determinants that can be modified by applying PIM criteria in routine practice were also identified.
(1) Background: The present study aimed to analyze medication adherence and its effect on blood pressure (BP) control and assess the prevalence of treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) among newly ...treated hypertensive patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); (2) Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate 5308 naïve hypertensive adults registered for the treatment across Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA) clinics in Abu Dhabi in 2017. After collecting data regarding basic details and BP measurements, patients were followed up for six months. Patients who did not reach BP targets despite taking three or more antihypertensive medications were defined as TRH; (3) Results: The overall adherence to antihypertensive treatment was 42%. At 6-month, a significant reduction in BP was observed in patients adherent to medications (systolic: −4.5 mm Hg and diastolic: −5.9 mm Hg) than those who were nonadherent to antihypertensive therapy (1.15 mm Hg and 3.59 mm Hg). Among 189 patients using three or more antihypertensive medications for six months, only 34% (n = 64) were adherent to the treatment, and only 13.7% (n = 26) reached the BP target. The prevalence of TRH was 20.1%; (4) Conclusions: Medication adherence and BP control among the participants were suboptimal. The study shows a high prevalence of TRH among newly treated hypertensives in the UAE. More extraordinary efforts toward improving adherence to antihypertensive therapy and more focus toward BP control and TRH are urgently needed.
Ethiopia is among countries with a high malaria burden. There are several studies that assessed the efficacy of anti-malarial agents in the country and this systematic review and meta-analysis was ...performed to obtain stronger evidence on treatment outcomes of malaria from the existing literature in Ethiopia.
A systematic literature search using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement was conducted on studies from Pubmed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases to identify published and unpublished literature. Comprehensive meta-analysis software was used to perform all meta-analyses. The Cochrane Q and the I
were used to evaluate heterogeneity of studies. Random effects model was used to combine studies showing heterogeneity of Cochrane Q p < 0.10 and I
> 50.
Twenty-one studies were included in the final analysis with a total number of 3123 study participants. Treatment outcomes were assessed clinically and parasitologically using World Health Organization guidelines. Adequate clinical and parasitological response was used to assess treatment success at the 28th day. Overall, a significant high treatment success of 92.9% (95% CI 89.1-96.6), p < 0.001, I
= 98.39% was noticed. However, treatment success was higher in falciparum malaria patients treated with artemether-lumefantrine than chloroquine for Plasmodium vivax patients 98.1% (97.0-99.2), p < 0.001, I
= 72.55 vs 94.7% (92.6-96.2), p < 0.001, I
= 53.62%. Seven studies reported the adverse drug reactions to anti-malarial treatment; of 822 participants, 344 of them were exposed to adverse drug reactions with a pooled event rate of 39.8% (14.1-65.5), p = 0.002.
On the basis of this review, anti-malarial treatment success was high (92.9%) and standard regimens showed good efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum (98.1%) and P. vivax (94.7%) infections in Ethiopia, but associated with high rates of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, these ADRs were not serious enough to discontinue anti-malarial treatment. The results of this study suggest that the current anti-malarial medications are effective and safe; however, greater priority should be placed on the discovery of new anti-malarial drugs to achieve successful outcomes as resistance seems inevitable since cases of anti-malarial drug resistance have been reported from other areas of the world.
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