A study of concordance between adolescent self-report and parent-proxy report of health-related quality of life in school-going adolescents

ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to determine the degree of concordance between the self-report and the parent's proxy report of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in school-going adolescents using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF instrument in India.MethodsTwenty schools were purposively selected out of the 1900 schools in Lucknow, India. About 5% adolescents (between 10–19 years) per school were randomly selected by lottery system. Subjects, whose parents consented for child's participation, completed the WHOQOL-BREF self-report and their parents filled the WHOQOL-BREF proxy-report for adolescent's HRQoL. Degree of concordance and association were assessed using Cohen's κ and Spearman's correlation, respectively.ResultsFive hundred fifteen adolescents (mean age=14 years with a standard deviation of ±2 years; 48.2% females) were included. κ Statistic values ranged from fair to moderate for all facets and dimensions of HRQoL between adolescent and parent report (κ=0.31–0.58, P<.01). There were moderate to very strong correlations between adolescent self and parent proxy report (r=0.62–0.81, P<.01) which declined with age of adolescent. The mother's scores correlated best in psychological dimension (r=0.81–0.88, P<.01) while that of father correlated best in environment dimension (r=0.81–0.79, P<.01), irrespective of child's gender.ConclusionOur study illustrated that fair to moderate agreement existed between parent proxy and subject's self-report for adolescent's HRQoL. That may be an indicator for suitability of parent's proxy report in certain dimensions, if a child is unavailable or unable to respond. However, further research may provide new insights into the determinants of concordance between subject self and parent proxy report of adolescent HRQoL.     

Role of Oxidative Stress in Celecoxib-Induced Renal Damage in Wistar Rats

Celecoxib, a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitor, prevents the formation of prostaglandins, responsible for maintenance of renal function. Celecoxib administration may lead to renal damage. Since free radicals and antioxidant mechanisms play a significant role in renal injury; this study was designed to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in celecoxib-induced renal damage. The administration of celecoxib resulted in moderate and mild tubulointerstitial nephritis in chronic and acute group. The renal function tests were significantly altered only in the chronic group. The results in both the acute and the chronic group showed (1) a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation and in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase and (2) a decrease in nitrite, reactive thiols and glutathione. In conclusion, our study suggests that chronic administration of celecoxib may have a damaging effect on kidney, as evident through altered histopathology and renal functions. This damage may be mediated by oxidative stress.     

Unmet needs for food,medicine, and mental health services among vulnerable older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

To examine sociodemographic factors associated with having unmet needs in medications, mental health, and food security among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data Sources and Study Setting

Primary data and secondary data from the electronic health records (EHR) in an age-friendly academic health system in 2020 were used.

Study Design

Observational study examining factors associated with having unmet needs in medications, food, and mental health.

Data Collecting/Extraction Methods

Data from a computer-assisted telephone interview and EHR on community-dwelling older patients were analyzed.

Principle Findings

Among 3400 eligible patients, 1921 (53.3%) (average age 76, SD 11) responded, with 857 (45%) of respondents having at least one unmet need. Unmet needs for medications were present in 595 (31.0%), for food in 196 (10.2%), and for mental health services in 292 (15.2%). Racial minorities had significantly higher probabilities of having unmet needs for medicine and food, and of being referred for services related to medications, food, and mental health. Patients living in more resource-limited neighborhoods had a higher probability of being referred for mental health services.

Conclusions

Age-friendly health systems (AFHS) and their recognition should include assessing and addressing social risk factors among older adults. Proactive efforts to address unmet needs should be integral to AFHS.     

Glycosyltransferases: the multifaceted enzymatic regulator in insects

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) catalyse the reaction of glyco-conjugation of various biomolecules by transferring the saccharide moieties from an activated nucleotide sugar to nucleophilic glycosyl acceptor. In insects, GTs show diverse temporal and site-specific expression patterns and thus play significant roles in forming the complex biomolecular structures that are necessary for insect survival, growth and development. Several insects exhibit GT-mediated detoxification as a key defence strategy against plant allelochemicals and xenobiotic compounds, as well as a mechanism for pesticide cross-resistance. Also, these enzymes act as crucial effectors and modulators in various developmental processes of insects such as eye development, UV shielding, cuticle formation, epithelial development and other specialized functions. Furthermore, many of the known insect GTs have been shown to play a fundamental role in other physiological processes like body pigmentation, cuticular tanning, chemosensation and stress response. This review provides a detailed overview of the multifaceted functionality of insect GTs and summarizes numerous case studies associated with it.     

M-mode echomyography: functional assessment of the effects of thumb-sucking habit on masticatory and circumoral musculature

Aim  

To assess and compare the function of masticatory and circumoral musculature in patients with and without thumb-sucking habit by using M-mode ultrasonography.