Incidence and Factors Associated With Recurrent Pericarditis in Lupus

Importance: Pericarditis is the most common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is known to recur among patients. However, the prevalence of and risk factors associated with recurrent pericarditis in patients with SLE were unknown.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of and risk factors associated with the recurrence of pericarditis in patients with SLE.

Design, setting, and participants: This study was a retrospective analysis of a well-characterized, single-center diverse group patients with SLE treated at a tertiary medical center and enrolled between 1988 and 2023. Patients diagnosed with pericarditis among those enrolled in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort were included. Data were analyzed from April 2023 and May 2024.

Main outcomes and measures: Recurrence of pericarditis was assessed. The Safety of Estrogens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment revision of the SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) was used to define pericarditis. Clinical information was examined for all follow-up encounters after the first episode of pericarditis. Episodes that occurred at least 6 weeks after the first recorded episode were defined as recurrent.

The study of risk factors of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Europe during 1993-95. European Union (EU) Collaborative Study Group of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

Abstract

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Genetic and iatrogenic forms have been recognised but most are sporadic and of unknown cause. We have studied risk factors for CJD as part of the 1993-95 European Union collaborative studies of CJD in Europe.

Methods: The 405 patients with definite or probable CJD who took part in our study had taken part in population-based studies done between 1993 and 1995 in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK. Data on putative risk factors from these patients were compared with data from 405 controls.

Findings: We found evidence for familial aggregation of CJD with dementia due to causes other than CJD (relative risk [RR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.31-3.90). No significant increased risk of CJD in relation to a history of surgery and blood transfusion was shown. There was no evidence for an association between the risk of CJD and the consumption of beef, veal, lamb, cheese, or milk. No association was found with occupational exposure to animals or leather. The few positive findings of the study include increased risk in relation to consumption of raw meat (RR 1.63 [95% CI 1.18-2.23]) and brain (1.68 [1.18-2.39]), frequent exposure to leather products (1.94 [1.13-3.33]), and exposure to fertiliser consisting of hoofs and horns (2.32 [1.38-2.91]). Additional analyses, for example stratification by country and of exposures pre-1985 and post-1985, suggest that these results should be interpreted with great caution.

Interpretation: Within the limits of the retrospective design of the study, our findings suggest that genetic factors other than the known CJD mutations may play an important part in CJD. Iatrogenic transmission of disease seems rare in this large population-based sample of patients with CJD. There is little evidence for an association between the risk of CJD and either animal exposure, or consumption of processed bovine meat or milk products for the period studied.

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INFLUENCE OF ORAL HEALTH ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS: A PILOT STUDY

Objective. To assess seniors’ attitudes towards oral health and general health related quality of life.

Background. The world population is rapidly aging, and more people live up to old age with full dentition. Oral health is tightly intertwined with general health. Institutionalization of elderly becomes more evident and understanding of the impact of dental treatment on patient’s life becomes substantial for better treatment planning.

Material and Methods. This study consisted of residential home and non-residential home-dwelling seniors from Lithuania. Lithuanian versions of Oral Health Index Profile (OHIP-14) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF short questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) were applied among older adults above 60 years of age.

Results.  47 senior adults, 36 (76.6%) senior women and 11 (23.4%) senior men whose ages were within ages of 63 to 104 years have partaken in the study. The average score of the OHIP-14 questionnaire for seniors living in residential homes was 12.55(±10.945), while for non-residential home dwelling elderly it was 23.84(±14.932). OHRQoL significantly differed between residential home and non-residential home dwelling elderly. Non-residential home dwelling  seniors often experienced taste disturbances (p=0,003), mouth pain (p=0,016), eating problems (p=0,004), found it difficult to relax (p=0,004), were often embarrassed (p=0,013), irritated (p=0,009), had trouble in daily work (p=0,004), were less satisfied with life (p=0,029) and were often unable to function due to their dental problems (p=0,007). Higher average scores of the WHOQoL-BREF domains were found in seniors living in residential home than in non-residential home dwelling elderly: 13.84(±2.43) and 12.00(±2.43) in the physical health, 15,45(±1,65) and 13,33(±2,61) in social relations, 15,30(±1,42) and 13,48(±2,58) in the environment domain. In the group of elderly living in residential home, statistically significantly lower average OHIP-14 score was found for seniors with higher education 8.09(±8.19), and for higher for seniors with lower education 17.00(±11.87). No statistically significant correlations were found with OHRQoL and sociodemographic indicators in the group of non-residential home dwelling elderly (p> 0,05).

Conclusions. Oral health of seniors living in residential homes had less of an impact on quality of life than of non-residential home dwelling seniors (p=0,007). The main differences in quality of life were found in physical health (p=0,029), social relationships (p=0,000048) and environment domains (p=0,003) between the two groups. Sociodemographic characteristics – age, gender, marital status, independence level – had no effect on the OHRQoL of seniors (p> 0.05), however, education was a significant factor only for seniors living in residential homes (p = 0.045).

What nonprobability sampling types do you know?

A survey was delivered among all the physicians employed at a particular hospital. Among other questions she or he was asked about how many years they are in particular positions and if they are satisfied with thei carier.  The same questions are planned to asked after 5 year. How would you call the planned study?