COVID-19 and mental health: a longitudinal population study from Norway

European Journal of Epidemiology - Existing research has found adverse short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, but longer-term effects have been less documented. Using newly...     

The prognostic value of elevated neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are at significant risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a widely available inflammatory biomarker which may be of prognostic value in this setting.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting associations between perioperative NLR with postoperative AKI. We searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library, without language restriction, from inception to May 2022 for relevant studies. We meta-analysed the reported odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for both elevated preoperative and postoperative NLR with risk of postoperative AKI and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). We conducted a meta-regression to explore inter-study statistical heterogeneity.

Results

Twelve studies involving 10,724 participants undergoing cardiac surgery were included, with eight studies being deemed at high risk of bias using PROBAST modelling. We found statistically significant associations between elevated preoperative NLR and postoperative AKI (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.18–1.77), as well as postoperative need for RRT (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.50–3.72). Postoperative NLR measurements were not of prognostic significance.

Conclusions

Elevated preoperative NLR is a reliable inflammatory biomarker for predicting AKI following cardiac surgery.     

Sensitivity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in screening for cognitive impairment in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Cognitive impairment is frequent in patients with high-grade glioma and requires cognitive follow-up. Cognitive screening tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment...     

Sex and smoking differences in the association between gastroesophageal reflux and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a high-incidence area: Golestan Cohort Study

Prior studies have conflicting findings regarding the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We examined this relationship in a prospective cohort in a region of high ESCC incidence. Baseline exposure data were collected from 50 045 individuals using in-person interviews at the time of cohort entry. Participants were followed until they developed cancer, died, or were lost to follow up. Participants with GERD symptoms were categorized into any GERD (heartburn or regurgitation), mixed symptoms, or heartburn alone. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess the relationship between GERD symptom group and histologically confirmed ESCC. The model was adjusted for known risk factors for GERD and ESCC. 49 559 individuals were included in this study, of which 9005 had GERD symptoms. Over 13.0 years of median follow up, 290 individuals were diagnosed with ESCC. We found no association between any GERD and risk of ESCC (aHR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.66-1.24, P = .54). Similar findings were observed for the GERD symptom subtypes. Significant interactions between any GERD and sex (P = .013) as well as tobacco smoking (P = .028) were observed. In post-hoc analyses, GERD was associated with a decreased risk of ESCC in men (aHR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27-0.98 P = .04) and in smokers (aHR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.83 P = .02). While there was little evidence for an overall association between GERD symptoms and ESCC risk, significant interactions with sex and smoking were observed. Men and smokers with GERD symptoms had a lower risk of ESCC development.     

Hair hormones in male youth with internet gaming disorder

Objectives: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is associated with altered physiological reactivity to psychosocial stress. Findings from a previous study on alterations of basal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, indexed by differences in hair hormone levels (i.e., cortisol) in IGD patients compared to matched controls, were limited by a small sample size.

Methods: Following the protocol of the previous study, male patients with IGD (n?=?31) and controls (n?=?31) matched for age, educational status and smoking were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using structured interviews and self-reports. Hair samples were taken for the analysis of cortisol, cortisone, testosterone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and corticosterone.

Results: Groups showed no significant differences on cortisol (d?=??0.10, 95%CI (?0.60; 0.40)), cortisone (d?=??0.10, 95%CI (?0.60; 0.40)), testosterone (d?=??0.00, 95%CI (?0.51; 0.51)), progesterone (d?=??0.46, 95%CI (?0.96; 0.05)), DHEA (d?=??0.04, 95%CI (?0.54; 0.47)) or corticosterone (d?=??0.19, 95%CI (?0.69; 0.32)). Associations between hair hormone concentrations, symptom severity and sociodemographic variables were weak and did not survive correction for multiple testing.

Conclusions: Unlike other psychiatric disorders, effects of IGD and associated psychopathology on basal HPA axis functioning, indexed by hair hormone levels, are negligible. Future studies need to rule out potential effects of sex, age and long-term pathology on these findings.     

Parental age and birth defects: a sibling study

European Journal of Epidemiology - Higher parental age at childbearing has generated much attention as a potential risk factor for birth disorders; however, previous research findings are mixed....