Prevalence of cataract and cataract surgery in urban and rural Chinese populations over 50 years old: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

AIM: To summarize the data of epidemiological studies on cataract prevalence over 50 years old in urban and rural areas of China from 2000 to 2020, and to analyze the prevalence of cataract and operation rate in China. METHODS: By searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Wanfang Data and CNKI, Chinese and English literatures on the prevalence of cataract in China were retrieved, and the relevant characteristic data were extracted. Then, Stata v15SE software was used for Meta-analysis and heterogeneity test. According to the results of heterogeneity, the corresponding effect models were selected to combine the extracted data. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included in this study, with a total of 111 434 cases. Meta-analysis showed heterogeneity. According to the random effect model, the overall prevalence of cataract in Chinese people over 50 years old was 27.45%, that in rural was 28.79%, and that in urban was 26.66%. The overall coverage rate of cataract surgery was 9.19%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cataract is high in China, and there is still room for improvement in surgical coverage, so it is very important to promote cataract screening and prevention.

Women’s health behaviour change after receiving breast cancer risk estimates with tailored screening and prevention recommendations

Background The Predicting Risk of Cancer at Screening (PROCAS) study provided women who were eligible for breast cancer screening in Greater Manchester (United Kingdom) with their 10-year risk of breast cancer, i.e., low (≤1.5%), average (1.5–4.99%), moderate (5.-7.99%) or high (≥8%). The aim of this study is to explore which factors were associated with women’s uptake of screening and prevention recommendations. Additionally, we evaluated women’s organisational preferences regarding tailored screening. Methods A total of 325 women with a self-reported low (n = 60), average (n = 125), moderate (n = 80), or high (n = 60) risk completed a two-part web-based survey. The first part contained questions about personal characteristics. For the second part women were asked about uptake of early detection and preventive behaviours after breast cancer risk communication. Additional questions were posed to explore preferences regarding the organisation of risk-stratified screening and prevention. We performed exploratory univariable and multivariable regression analyses to assess which factors were associated with uptake of primary and secondary breast cancer preventive behaviours, stratified by breast cancer risk. Organisational preferences are presented using descriptive statistics. Results Self-reported breast cancer risk predicted uptake of (a) supplemental screening and breast self-examination, (b) risk-reducing medication and (c) preventive lifestyle behaviours. Further predictors were (a) having a first degree relative with breast cancer, (b) higher age, and (c) higher body mass index (BMI). Women’s organisational preferences for tailored screening emphasised a desire for more intensive screening for women at increased risk by further shortening the screening interval and moving the starting age forward. Conclusions Breast cancer risk communication predicts the uptake of key tailored primary and secondary preventive behaviours. Effective communication of breast cancer risk information is essential to optimise the population-wide impact of tailored screening.

Special Issue “Gynaecological Cancers Risk: Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Endometrial Cancer”

Over the last decade there have been significant advances and developments in our understanding of factors affecting women’s cancer risk, our ability to identify individuals at increased risk and risk stratify populations, as well as implement and evaluate strategies for screening and prevention [...]

Using Innovative Machine Learning Methods to Screen and Identify Predictors of Congenital Heart Diseases

Objective: Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are associated with an extremely heavy global disease burden as the most common category of birth defects. Genetic and environmental factors have been identified as risk factors of CHDs previously. However, high volume clinical indicators have never been considered when predicting CHDs. This study aimed to predict the occurrence of CHDs by considering thousands of variables from self-reported questionnaires and routinely collected clinical laboratory data using machine learning algorithms.Methods: We conducted a birth cohort study at one of the largest cardiac centers in China from 2011 to 2017. All fetuses were screened for CHDs using ultrasound and cases were confirmed by at least two pediatric cardiologists using echocardiogram. A total of 1,127 potential predictors were included to predict CHDs. We used the Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM) for prediction and evaluated the model performance using area under the Receive Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves (AUC). The top predictors were selected according to their contributions and predictive values. Thresholds were calculated for the most significant predictors.Results: Overall, 5,390 mother-child pairs were recruited. Our prediction model achieved an AUC of 76% (69-83%) from out-of-sample predictions. Among the top 35 predictors of CHDs we identified, 34 were from clinical laboratory tests and only one was from the questionnaire (abortion history). Total accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.65, 0.74, and 0.65, respectively. Maternal serum uric acid (UA), glucose, and coagulation levels were the most consistent and significant predictors of CHDs. According to the thresholds of the predictors identified in our study, which did not reach the current clinical diagnosis criteria, elevated UA (>4.38 mg/dl), shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (<33.33 s), and elevated glucose levels were the most important predictors and were associated with ranges of 1.17-1.54 relative risks of CHDs. We have developed an online predictive tool for CHDs based on our findings that may help screening and prevention of CHDs.Conclusions: Maternal UA, glucose, and coagulation levels were the most consistent and significant predictors of CHDs. Thresholds below the current clinical definition of “abnormal” for these predictors could be used to help develop CHD screening and prevention strategies.

Knowledge, Attitude and Uptake of Pap Smear among Female Healthcare Professionals in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Despite the high prevalence of cervical cancer (CC) in Nigeria, the uptake of screening services, including Pap smear, remains poor, even amongst healthcare providers. Objective: To assess Pap smear knowledge, attitude, and uptake among female healthcare professionals (FHPs). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Kwara State, Nigeria, using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A majority (343, 98.6%) of the FHPs knew Pap smear. Five (26.3%) medical laboratory scientists did not know what a Pap smear was. All the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists and medical social workers knew Pap smear. Only a fifth (71; 20.4%) of the FHPs had ever done a Pap smear. The most common reason cited for not having done a Pap smear was lack of time (109; 31.3%). There was a relationship between age and uptake of Pap smear (p = 0.024). Only 188 (54%) of the FHPs had ever recommended Pap smear to other women. Conclusion: Despite the high level of knowledge of Pap smear amongst FHPs in Nigeria, attitude and uptake remain poor. There is a need for further training and education of FHPs on the benefits of CC screening to increase their uptake and improve their effectiveness in promoting positive attitudes towards CC screening and prevention in the general population.

Long non-coding RNA FAM66C regulates glioma growth via the miRNA/LATS1 signaling pathway

Glioma is one of the most common primary intracranial carcinomas and typically associated with a dismal prognosis and poor quality of life. The identification of novel oncogenes is clinically valuable for early screening and prevention. Recently, the studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the development and progression of cancers including glioma. The expression of lncRNA FAM66C is reduced in glioma cell lines and clinical samples compared to non-tumor samples. Knockdown of FAM66C in U87 and U251 cells significantly promoted cell proliferation and migration, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation between FAM66C and Hippo pathway regulators YAP1 and LATS1, along with the alteration of their protein expression level indicated that FAM66C regulated cell growth through this pathway. Moreover, luciferase assay demonstrated that another two noncoding RNAs, miR15a/miR15b, directly bonded to the 3′UTR of LATS1 to facilitated its transcriptional expression and inhibited cell growth. In addition, the luciferase activity of FAM66C was block by miR15a/miR15b, and the promotion of cell growth effects caused by FAM66C deficiency was attenuated by miR15a/miR15b mimics, further proved that FAM66C functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate glioma growth via the miRNA/LATS1 signaling pathway.

Early Identification of Suicide Risk Factors Among Justice-Involved Youth

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among juvenile justice populations are elevated. However, the characteristics of justice-involved youth who consider and attempt suicide are not well understood. This study examined suicidal ideation and attempt with first-time, preadjudicated diverted youth, and the relationship with commonly associated risk factors. The sample included 135 youth (50% male, Mage = 14.48) that provided complete responses to self-reported lifetime suicidal ideation and attempt items. Analyses examined relationships between suicidal ideation/attempt and mental health, child welfare involvement, delinquency, self-cutting, and substance use. First time, preadjudicated diverted youth reported high rates of lifetime suicidal ideation (27%) and attempt (17%). Suicidal ideation and attempt were associated with sexually minoritized status and self-cutting, while child welfare involvement was only associated with suicidal ideation. This high-risk population would benefit from refined suicide screening and prevention services not always available to justice-involved youth living in the community.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Screening in India: Current Situation, Challenges and Way Forwards

Cancer screening is a highly effective preventive measure that can reduce cancer incidence and mortality. COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted the ongoing screening activities for early diagnosis of cancers across the globe and the worst affected are low and middle income countries and India is no exception to it. This disruption to cancer screening services may have a significant impact on patients, health care practitioners, and health systems. Through this paper, we aim to offer a comprehensive view on the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening in India and offer potential solutions to the problems arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic in cancer screening and prevention.

Use of repeated mammograms to evaluate risk of breast cancer: a systematic review of methods used in the literature

Objective This systematic review aimed to assess methods used to relate repeated mammographic images to breast cancer risk, including the time from mammogram to diagnosis of breast cancer, and methods for analysis of data from either one or both breasts (averaged or assessed individually). Design A systematic review was performed. Setting The databases including in Medline (Ovid) 1946-, Embase.com 1947-, CINAHL Plus 1937-, Scopus 1823-, Cochrane Library (including CENTRAL), and Clinicaltrials.gov. were searched through October 2021, to extract published articles in English, describing relationship of the change in mammographic features with risk of breast cancer. Participants Women with mammogram images. Main outcome measure Breast cancer incidence. Results Twenty articles were included in the final review. We found that BIRADs and Cumulus were most commonly used for classifying mammographic density and automated assessment was used on more recent digital mammograms. Time between mammograms varied from 1 to 4 years, and only 9 of the studies used more than 2 mammograms to quantify features. One study used a prediction horizon of 5 and 10 years, one used 5 years only and another 10 years only, while in the others the prediction horizon was not clearly defined with investigators using the next screening mammogram. Conclusion This review provided an updated overview of the state of the art and revealed research gaps; based on these, we provide recommendations for future studies using repeated measure methods for mammogram images to make the use of accumulating image data. By following these recommendations, we expect to improve risk classification and risk prediction for women to tailor screening and prevention strategies to level of risk.