Analysis of the Filipinos’ Interest in Searching Online for Oral Cancer

Objective: This study analyzed the health-seeking behavior of Filipinos using Google Trends tool to quantify relative search volume by term . Oral cancer, mouth cancer, tongue cancer, gum cancer, and lip cancer were used as predetermined search terms. Material and method: Comma-separated values file containing relative search volumes of search trends pertaining to oral cancer from 2009 to 2019 were assessed. Brown-Forsythe one-way ANOVA was used to measure differences with respect to oral cancer across different years and months. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to detect differences regarding mouth cancer, tongue cancer, gum cancer, and lip cancer across the years. Time series models were fitted and used to forecast search interests. Results: The results revealed that interest in oral cancer was significantly higher in 2019 (43.75±5.5, p <0.05) compared to 2009 (29.0 ± 6.7). In terms of months, searches were higher in February (45.0 ± 6.6) compared to May (24.8 ± 3.4, p=0.015), June (25.3 ± 4.4, p=0.020), and December (26.5 ± 4.0, p=0.038). Search interests for gum cancer and lip cancer remained significantly lower from 2011 to 2019, and tongue cancer from 2016 to 2018 but approximated mouth cancer in 2019. The forecast showed that mouth cancer (31.67%), tongue cancer (23.75%), and lip cancer (3.83%) would fluctuate through time pass, while gum cancer (8%) would remain steady in 2020. Conclusion: Health-seeking behavior through search trends showed an increased interest in oral cancer in 2019 and during February. It was anticipated that search interests would fluctuate in 2020, but at the end of the year would decrease for mouth cancer and tongue cancer, increase for lip cancer, and remain steady for gum cancer.     

Comparison between a new multiplex electrochemiluminescence assay and the WHO reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure serum antibodies against pneumococcal serotype-specific polysaccharides

Background

Two electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assays were developed which, together, can simultaneously measure serum antibodies against pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (PnPS) for 17 serotypes. The assays were validated for the 13 PnPS included in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). As recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), we compared the ECL assays with the WHO reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and derived a threshold corresponding to the 0.35?µg/mL threshold established for the WHO reference ELISA for the non-inferiority comparison and licensure of new PCVs against invasive pneumococcal disease.

Changes in total sperm count after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy: the BARIASPERM prospective study

BackgroundThe massive weight loss induced by bariatric surgery is associated with major benefits, but the effect on semen variables is still uncertain.ObjectivesTo explore semen modifications with gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.SettingFive French University Hospitals.MethodsMale candidates for bariatric surgery with no history of infertility were recruited in this controlled prospective study. Sperm characteristics were collected before surgery and then 6 months and up to 12 months after surgery.ResultsForty-six adult men who underwent gastric bypass (n = 20) or sleeve gastrectomy (n = 26) were included. Total sperm count tended to be lower at 6 months and showed a significant decrease at 12 months in both surgery groups, at ?69.5 million (?96.8 to ?42.2 million; P = 0.0021). Total sperm count at 12 months relative to baseline was ?41.4 million (P = .0391) after gastric bypass and ?91.1 million (P = .0080) after sleeve gastrectomy. This was counterbalanced by an associated resolution of hypogonadism and decrease of DNA fragmentation in most patients with time after surgery.ConclusionImprovement in some semen variables after bariatric surgery observed in 3 previous studies is in contrast to the lower mean total sperm count found in this study at 1 year. The possible reversibility of this effect in the long term and the impact of surgery on fertility both remain unknown.     

Maternal mental health modifies the association of food insecurity and early child development

We examined the association between household food insecurity and early child development and whether or not maternal depression and anxiety modifies this association. The cross‐sectional study included 468 mother–infant pairs recruited at primary health centers of the Federal District, Brazil. Mothers answered a questionnaire that evaluated early child development (outcome), household food insecurity (independent variable), maternal depression and trait anxiety (effect modifiers). Variables were collected with validated questionnaires for the Brazilian population. Pearson's χ² test and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Infants who lived in a moderate or severe food insecure household had 2.52 times (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.13, 5.65]) the odds of having early child development delays compared with infants in secure households. Maternal depression and anxiety modified the strength of association between household food insecurity and early child development, which is an innovative finding. Among infants with depressed mothers, those experiencing mild (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.33, 95% CI [1.17, 9.46]) and moderate/severe household food insecurity (aOR 10.13, 95% CI [2.18, 47.10]) had higher odds of having early child development delays, compared with infants in food secure households. Among infants with both anxious and depressed mothers, these associations were even stronger for mild (aOR 4.69, 95% CI [1.41, 15.59]) and moderate/severe household food insecurity (aOR 16.07, 95% CI [2.70, 95.66]). In conclusion, household food insecurity is a risk factor for early child development delays, and this association is modified by maternal depression and anxiety. Future studies should evaluate the impact of intervention packages that address maternal depression and anxiety and household food insecurity on preventing early child development delays.     

Antioxidants in liver health

Liver diseases are a worldwide medical problem because the liver is the principal detoxifying organ and maintains metabolic homeostasis. The liver metabolizes various compounds that produce free radicals(FR).However, antioxidants scavenge FR and maintain the oxidative/antioxidative balance in the liver. When the liver oxidative/antioxidative balance is disrupted, the state is termed oxidative stress. Oxidative stress leadsto deleterious processes in the liver and produces liver diseases. Therefore, restoring antioxidants is essential to maintain homeostasis. One method of restoring antioxidants is to consume natural compounds with antioxidant capacity. The objective of this review is to provide information pertaining to various antioxidants found in food that have demonstrated utility in improving liver diseases.