scholarly journals Microaneurysm Turnover in Mild Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy is Associated with Progression and Development of Vision-Threatening Complications: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2142
Author(s):  
Ana Rita Santos ◽  
Luis Mendes ◽  
Maria Helena Madeira ◽  
Ines P. Marques ◽  
Diana Tavares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Predictive Biomarker ◽  
Fundus Photography ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background: Analysis of retinal microaneurysm turnover (MAT) has been previously shown to contribute to the identification of eyes at risk of developing clinically significant complications associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). We propose to further characterize MAT as a predictive biomarker of DR progression and development of vision-threatening complications. Methods: 212 individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D; ETDRS grades 20 and 35) were evaluated annually in a 5-year prospective, longitudinal study, by color fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Endpoints were diabetic macular edema (DME) or proliferative retinopathy (PDR). MAT analysis included determination of MA formation and disappearance rates, automatically assessed using the RetMarkerDR®. Retinopathy severity progression was evaluated using step increases in ETDRS severity levels. Results: Of the 212 individuals, 172 completed the 5-year follow-up study or developed an endpoint (n = 27). MAT calculated at 1 year showed a significant difference between groups of endpoint developments (p = 0.018), particularly MA disappearance rate (p = 0.007). MAT also showed a significant difference between eyes with different ETDRS severity progression in the 5-year period (p = 0.035). Conclusions: MAT is an indicator of the development of DME and/or PDR as well as of DR severity progression in T2D individuals with mild retinopathy.

scholarly journals A Five Year Longitudinal Study of the Educational Environment in a Newly Integrated Medical Curriculum

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Syed I. Shehnaz
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Traditional Curriculum ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
Course Of Study

Objectives: The College of Medicine at Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, United Arab Emirates, was subjected to a curricular reform, which shifted the institution from a traditional curriculum to a hybrid, studentcentred, integrated curriculum. There are no previous studies analysing the consequences of such a curricular modification on the educational environment (EE). Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the EE of a pioneer cohort of the innovative curriculum over their five-year course of study. Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted between September 2009 and September 2013 at the College of Medicine. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure questionnaire was completed by a pioneer cohort of students at the start of each academic session for five consecutive years. The mean overall, subscale and individual statement scores were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon-rank sum tests. Results: A total of 178 responses were collected (response rate: 90.4%). The mean overall score throughout the five years of study was 130/200. A significant difference in the scores (P <0.05) was observed as the students proceeded through the course. The overall and subscale scores were significantly higher in the first and final years of study. Analysis of the statements recognised the medical knowledge of the teachers’ and students’ awareness of empathy and social interactions as persistent strengths of the college over the entire course of study. A curricular overload, a want for support systems for stressed students, students’ waning interest levels and assessment strategies emerged as areas that warranted further attention. Conclusion: The pioneer cohort of the new curriculum rated their EE as positive throughout their five years of study at GMU. An examination of individual statements revealed the programme’s strengths and areas for improvement for the institution.Keywords: Curriculum; Environment; Longitudinal Study; Medical Students; Perception; Undergraduate Medical Education; United Arab Emirates.

scholarly journals Changes in self-rated health and quality of life among Syrian refugees migrating to Norway: a prospective longitudinal study

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Haj-Younes ◽  
Elisabeth Marie Strømme ◽  
Jannicke Igland ◽  
Bernadette Kumar ◽  
Eirik Abildsnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Forced migrants can be exposed to various stressors that can impact their health and wellbeing. How the different stages in the migration process impacts health is however poorly explored. The aim of this study was to examine changes in self-rated health (SRH) and quality of life (QoL) among a cohort of adult Syrian refugees before and after resettlement in Norway. Method We used a prospective longitudinal study design with two assessment points to examine changes in health among adult Syrian resettlement refugees in Lebanon accepted for resettlement in Norway. We gathered baseline data in 2017/2018 in Lebanon and subsequently at follow-up one year after arrival. The main outcomes were good SRH measured by a single validated item and QoL measured by WHOQOL-BREF. We used generalized estimating equations to investigate changes in outcomes over time and incorporated interaction terms in the models to evaluate effect modifications. Results In total, 353 subjects participated in the study. The percentage of participants reporting good SRH showed a non-significant increase from 58 to 63% RR, 95%CI: 1.1 (1.0, 1.2) from baseline to follow-up while mean values of all four QoL domains increased significantly from baseline to follow-up; the physical domain from 13.7 to 15.7 B, 95%CI: 1.9 (1.6, 2.3), the psychological domain from 12.8 to 14.5 B, 95%CI: 1.7 (1.3, 2.0), social relationships from 13.7 to 15.3 B, 95%CI: 1.6 (1.2, 2.0) and the environmental domain from 9.0 to 14.0 5.1 B, 95%CI: (4.7, 5.4). Positive effect modifiers for improvement in SRH and QoL over time include male gender, younger age, low level of social support and illegal status in transit country. Conclusion Our results show that good SRH remain stable while all four QoL domains improve, most pronounced in the environment domain. Understanding the dynamics of migration and health is a fundamental step in reaching health equity.

Sleep duration and overweight in Chinese adolescents: a prospective longitudinal study with 2-year follow-up

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-328
Author(s):  
Qing-Hai Gong ◽  
Si-Xuan Li ◽  
Si-Jia Wang ◽  
Yan-Hui Wu ◽  
Li-Yuan Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Chinese Adolescents ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

scholarly journals Comparison of anthropometric indices for predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome and its components in Chinese adults: a prospective, longitudinal study

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e016062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyu Wang ◽  
Aihua Liu ◽  
Tong Zhao ◽  
Xun Gong ◽  
Tianxiao Pang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Roc Curve ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Anthropometric Indices ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Adiposity Index ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

ObjectivesOur study aimed to distinguish the ability of anthropometric indices to assess the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).DesignProspective cohort study.SettingShenyang, China.ParticipantsA total of 379 residents aged between 40 and 65 were enrolled. 253 of them were free of MetS and had been followed up for 4.5 years.MethodsAt baseline, all the participants underwent a thorough medical examination. A variety of anthropometric parameters were measured and calculated, including waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index, body roundness index, conicity index, waist-to-hip ratio and visceral adiposity index (VAI). After 4.5 year follow-up, we re-examined whether participants were suffering from MetS. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to examine the potential of the above indices to identify the status and risk of MetS.OutcomesOccurrence of MetS.ResultsAt baseline, 33.2% participants suffered from MetS. All of the anthropometric indices showed clinical significance, and VAI was superior to the other indices as it was found to have the largest area under the ROC curve. After a 4.5 year follow-up, 37.8% of men and 23.9% of women developed MetS. ROC curve analysis suggested that baseline BMI was the strongest predictor of MetS for men (0.77 (0.68–0.85)), and AVI was the strongest for women (0.72 (0.64–0.79)). However, no significant difference was observed between WC and both indices. In contrast, the baseline ABSI did not predict MetS in both genders.ConclusionsThe present study indicated that these different indices derived from anthropometric parameters have different discriminatory abilities for MetS. Although WC did not have the largest area under the ROC curve for diagnosing and predicting MetS, it may remain a better index of MetS status and risk because of its simplicity and wide use.

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