Atipatsa Chiwanda Kaminga
Mzuzu University, Mathematics, Faculty Member
- Mathematics, Cryptography, Information Theory and coding, Coding Theory, Coding theory applied to Genetic Networks, Error correcting codes, and 6 moreAlgebraic computational number theory and cryptography, Computer Science, History Of Computing, Mathematics of Cryptography, Pairing-based cryptography, and Elliptical Curve Cryptography for Wirless Sensor Networksedit
- As a professional educationist, mathematician, and statistician, my goal is to produce a society that is diligent, innovative, and eager to learn new thingsedit
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Prevalence estimates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among breast cancer patients varied widely in existing studies. This study aimed to provide an overall prevalence estimate of PTSD among breast cancer patients, and the... more
Prevalence estimates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among breast cancer patients varied widely in existing studies. This study aimed to provide an overall prevalence estimate of PTSD among breast cancer patients, and the prevalence estimates related to specific PTSD diagnosis tools. Systematic search of relevant articles was made from seven databases. Freeman-Tukey Double Arcsine Transformation was used to estimate the overall prevalence of PTSD. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were used to investigate the between-study sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was examined using Egger's funnel plot and Begg test. The pooled prevalence of PTSD among breast cancer patients was [9.6%, 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)=7.9-11.5%]. Studies that used Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-Form (CAPS) method alone yielded much higher prevalence (19.0%, 95%CI=13.1-25.5%, n=5) than three or fourth edition Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (SC...
AIM: To investigate the effects of chewing xylitol-containing gum on the microbial composition in oral cavity. METHODS: 60 volunteers aged 18- 22 years were included and randomly divided into 3 groups( n =20) : 45 min chewing after lunch(... more
AIM: To investigate the effects of chewing xylitol-containing gum on the microbial composition in oral cavity. METHODS: 60 volunteers aged 18- 22 years were included and randomly divided into 3 groups( n =20) : 45 min chewing after lunch( group A),15 min chewing after lunch( group B) and non-chewing control( group C). Saliva was collected on day 21 and cultured on BHI,MSB and Rogosa agar plates for colony enumeration. RESULTS: Chewing xylitol-containing gum significantly decreased the level of total bacteria in saliva. However,no significant difference was observed between different duration of gum chewing. CONCLUSION: Chewing xylitol-containing gum for 15 min is sufficient to suppress oral bacteria,further prolonging the duration of chewing may not necessarily enhance the inhibitory effect on oral microflora.
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There is limited information on the impact of effective healthcare provider-patient communication on facility-based delivery in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of communication in the maternity ward, identify... more
There is limited information on the impact of effective healthcare provider-patient communication on facility-based delivery in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of communication in the maternity ward, identify facilitators and barriers to healthcare provider-patient communication, and understand how they affect maternal healthcare. This was a descriptive study that used qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide to collect information about women's perceptions of their communication with healthcare providers. A total of 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with women admitted for delivery in six health facilities drawn from three administrative regions in Malawi. The information collected focused on the communication that pregnant women had with healthcare providers, their perception of that communication, and the barriers to effective communica...
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This study mainly aimed to explore the association between brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among flood survivors in China. Individuals who experienced the 1998... more
This study mainly aimed to explore the association between brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among flood survivors in China. Individuals who experienced the 1998 Dongting Lake flood in Southeast Huarong, China, were enrolled in this study. Qualified health personnel carried out face-to-face interviews with participants. PTSD was identified using PTSD Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C). Blood samples were collected from the participants to extract DNA for genotyping. A total of 175 participants were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of PTSD among flood survivors at 17-year follow-up was 16.0% (28/175). Individuals with PTSD were more likely to be female, experience at least three flood-related stressors, experience at least three postflood stressors, and carry the Met than those without PTSD. Compared with Val/Val homozygotes, Met carriers had higher scores of PCL-C (mean ± standard error: 23.60 ± 7.23 versus 2...
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Although numerous studies have indicated that exposure to natural disasters may increase survivors' risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, studies focusing on the long-term psychological outcomes of flood survivors... more
Although numerous studies have indicated that exposure to natural disasters may increase survivors' risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, studies focusing on the long-term psychological outcomes of flood survivors are limited. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PTSD and anxiety among flood survivors 17 years after the 1998 Dongting Lake flood and to identify the risk factors for PTSD and anxiety. This cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2015, 17 years after the 1998 Dongting Lake flood. Survivors in hard-hit areas of the flood disaster were enrolled in this study using a stratified, systematic random sampling method. Well qualified investigators conducted face-to-face interviews with participants using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian version, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Chinese version of the Social Support Rating Scale and the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Scale for Chinese to assess PTSD, anxiety, soc...
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STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students in Hunan Province, China. DESIGN A cross-sectional study SETTING: Female university students in Changsha... more
STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine prevalence and risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese female university students in Hunan Province, China. DESIGN A cross-sectional study SETTING: Female university students in Changsha city, Hunan province, China PARTICIPANTS: 4,606 female individuals selected by a multistage cluster random sampling method INTERVENTIONS: A self-administered questionnaire, which included socio-demographic information, lifestyle habits and emotional characteristics, menstruation pattern, was used to collect data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Information about menarche, body mass index, cycle length and regularity, primary dysmenorrhea, physical exercise,depression and anxiety. RESULTS The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was 41.7% among Chinese female university students. Multivariate binary logistic regression indicated that being a minority (OR=1.335, 95%CI: 1.083,1.646), underweight (OR=1.249, 95%CI: 1.08,1.42), annual household income <80,000 CNY ...
BACKGROUND Research findings on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the risk of cancer were inconsistent. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to perform a quantitative synthesis of the preceding research... more
BACKGROUND Research findings on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the risk of cancer were inconsistent. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to perform a quantitative synthesis of the preceding research findings. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING System review and meta-analysis. METHODS Electronic database of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched to identify relevant observational studies published not later than September 9, 2020. Specifically, original articles that reported the risk of cancer in adult populations that experienced ACEs before the age of 18 were selected. All pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Publication bias was examined using funnel plots, and sensitivity analysis was used to explore the stability of the pooled results. RESULTS A total of 18 studies involving 406,210 participants were included in this review. Individuals with 2 or 3 kinds of ACEs (OR = 1.35, 95%CI:1.12,1.62) or at least 4 ACEs (OR = 2.17, 95%CI: 1.76,2.68) were at increased risk of cancer when compared with individuals with no ACEs. Of the different types of ACEs examined, physical abuse (OR = 1.23, 95%CI:1.05,1.43), sexual abuse (OR = 1.26, 95%CI:1.02,1.56), exposure to intimate partner violence (OR = 1.26, 95%CI:1.12,1.41) and financial difficulties in the family (OR = 1.16, 95%CI:1.00,1.33) were associated with the risk of any cancer. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that multiple ACEs may be a risk factor for cancer development. Therefore, prevention of ACEs and interventions for supporting those affected by ACEs are necessary.
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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet has significantly spread information, providing people with knowledge and advice about health protection regarding COVID-19. While a previous study demonstrated that health and eHealth... more
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet has significantly spread information, providing people with knowledge and advice about health protection regarding COVID-19. While a previous study demonstrated that health and eHealth literacy are related to COVID-19 prevention behaviors, few studies have focused on the relationship between health literacy, eHealth literacy, and COVID-19–related health behaviors. The latter includes not only preventative behaviors but also conventional health behaviors. Objective The objective of this study was to develop and verify a COVID-19–related health behavior questionnaire, explore its status and structure, and examine the associations between these behaviors and participants’ health literacy and eHealth literacy. Methods A snowball sampling method was adopted to recruit participants to complete anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire surveys online that assessed sociodemographic information, self-reported coronavirus knowledge, health l...
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ObjectivesTo examine the association between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms among the elderly in the nursing homes of Hunan province in China.Design, Setting and participantsThis was a cross-sectional study... more
ObjectivesTo examine the association between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms among the elderly in the nursing homes of Hunan province in China.Design, Setting and participantsThis was a cross-sectional study investigating 817 elderly people from 24 nursing homes in China’s Hunan province.Main outcome measuresSleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) such that poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI Score >5. In addition, depression symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Linear regression models and binary logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationship between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms.ResultsThe mean PSQI Score was 8.5±4.9, and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 67.3%. Additionally, the mean GDS Score was 9.8±7.5, and the prevalence of depression symptoms was 36.0%. Elderly people with poor sleep quality had increased GDS Score (mean ...
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Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Background: An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with the severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Epidemiologic... more
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Background: An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with the severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that patients with comorbidities and novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection may have poor survival outcomes. However, the risk of these coexisting medical conditions in severe and non-severe cases has not been systematically reported. Purpose: The present study aimed to estimate the association of chronic comorbidities in severe and non-severe cases. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database (CQVIP) from the inception dates to April 1, 2020, to identify cohort studies assessing comorbidity and risk of adverse outcome. Either a fixed- or random-effects model was used to calculate the overall combined risk estimates. Results: A total of 22 studies involving 3286 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were included in the analysis. Overall, compared with the patients with non-severe cases, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory diseases in patients with severe cases were 2.79 (95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 1.66–4.69), 1.64 (95% CI: 2.30–1.08), 1.79 (95% CI: 1.08–2.96), 3.92 (95% CI: 2.45–6.28), and 1.98 (95% CI: 1.26–3.12), respectively. Conclusions: This meta-analysis supports the finding that chronic comorbidities may contribute to severe outcome in patients with COVID-19. According to the findings of the present study, old age and 2 or more comorbidities are significantly impactful to COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients in China.
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Background: The rapid spread and uncertain outcome of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) around the world have caused worry, fear, and stress among the general population. Nevertheless, the prevalence of depression among... more
Background: The rapid spread and uncertain outcome of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) around the world have caused worry, fear, and stress among the general population. Nevertheless, the prevalence of depression among college students in China during lockdown, following the COVID-19 pandemic, and their coping strategies have not been quantitatively assessed.Objective: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among college students in China during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and assess their coping strategies.Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the prevalence of depression among college students in China and their coping strategies.Results: The results indicated that, during lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence rates of college students in China suffering from mild, moderate, and severe depression were 25% (95% CI = 17–33%), 7% (95% CI = 2–14%), and 2% (95% CI = 1–5%), respectively. Besides, the propo...
Background Elderly residents in nursing homes are at high risk for dysphagia. However, the prevalence estimates of this condition and its risk factors among this population were inconsistent. Objective To estimate the prevalence of... more
Background Elderly residents in nursing homes are at high risk for dysphagia. However, the prevalence estimates of this condition and its risk factors among this population were inconsistent. Objective To estimate the prevalence of dysphagia and examine its risk factors among the elderly in nursing homes. Methods Electronic database of PubMed, Web of science, Embase for English language, Wangfang, VIP and CNKI for Chinese language were systematically searched to identify relevant observational studies published not later than July 4, 2021. Studies conducted in nursing homes and reported dysphagia assessment methods were included. Results In total, 43 studies involving 56,746 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-Analysis. The overall pooled crude prevalence of dysphagia was 35.9% (95%CI: 29.0%, 43.4%), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 99.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in prevalence estimates with respect to study locations, methods of asse...
Background: Previous results on the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chemokine concentrations were inconsistent. The purpose of this network meta-analysis was to evaluate the link between chemokine system... more
Background: Previous results on the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chemokine concentrations were inconsistent. The purpose of this network meta-analysis was to evaluate the link between chemokine system and NAFLD. Methods: Relevant data, published not later than June 31, 2019, were searched in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A network meta-analysis was used to rank the chemokines by surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) probabilities. In addition, standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as group differences in the chemokine concentrations. Results: The search in the databases identified 46 relevant studies that investigated the relationship between 15 different chemokines and NAFLD using 4,753 patients and 4,059 controls. Results from the network meta-analysis showed that the concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL8 in the non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) group was significantly higher than that in the control group (SMDs of 1.51 and 1.95, respectively), and the concentrations of CCL3, CCL4, CCL20, CXCL8, and CXCL10 in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group was significantly higher than that in the control group (SMDs of 0.90, 2.05, 2.16, 0.91, and 1.46, respectively). SUCRA probabilities showed that CXCL8 had the highest rank in NAFL for all chemokines and CCL20 had the highest rank in NASH for all chemokines. Conclusion: Elevated concentrations of CCL2, CCL4, CCL20, CXCL8, and CXCL10 may be associated with NAFL or NASH. In this regard, more population-based studies are needed to ascertain this hypothesis. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020139373.
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BACKGROUND The world is experiencing an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, it is unclear whether people’s lifestyles will change as a result. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to explore... more
BACKGROUND The world is experiencing an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, it is unclear whether people’s lifestyles will change as a result. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to explore perceived lifestyle changes after the outbreak of COVID-19 and their association with subjective well-being (SWB) among the general population in Mainland China. METHODS An online survey was conducted in May 2020. Lifestyle behaviors including leisure-time physical exercise, leisure-time screen time, and dietary intake were self-reported. SWB was measured using the General Wellbeing Schedule (GWS). Other covariates including sociodemographic factors, self-rated physical health, perceived social support, and loneliness were also assessed by a structured questionnaire. A multivariate ordinal regression method was used to analyze the association between SWB and lifestyle behaviors as well as perceived lifestyle changes. RESULTS A total of 1033 particip...
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Background: Hand hygiene is effective in preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); however, its compliance remains low, and reasons are poorly understood, thus its research and feedback may lead to successful... more
Background: Hand hygiene is effective in preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); however, its compliance remains low, and reasons are poorly understood, thus its research and feedback may lead to successful interventions. This study aimed to explore the observed and self-reported hand hygiene compliance and associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the medical/surgical ward of a county referral hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was used in this study. Direct observation guided by 5 moments for hand hygiene concept was carried to describe compliance, and the questionnaire technique informed by Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was employed to investigate self-reported compliance, barriers, and facilitators of hand hygiene compliance. This study was done at a county referral hospital in Kenya. The total number of hand hygiene opportunities observed was 347 among 55 HCWs, and 132 HCWs filled the questionnaires. Results: The overa...
Abstract Evidence of the effect of lifestyle behaviors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is scarce or ambiguous. The objective of the present study was to explore the associations between multiple lifestyle behaviors and HRQoL... more
Abstract Evidence of the effect of lifestyle behaviors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is scarce or ambiguous. The objective of the present study was to explore the associations between multiple lifestyle behaviors and HRQoL among the elderly individuals with prediabetes. Four hundred thirty-four elderly individuals with prediabetes were included in this cross-sectional study. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL. Multiple lifestyle behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, dietary habits, daily sedentary time and sleep duration were self-reported. The associations between HRQoL and multiple lifestyle behaviors were examined using a multivariate linear regression analysis. Lower-risk physical activities (β =3 .19, 95% CI: 1.32, 5.64), dietary habits (β = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.50, 4.72), and sedentary time (β = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.81) were positively associated with the physical health component score (PCS) for HRQoL. Meanwhile, a lower-risk behavior, such as sleep duration (β = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.77, 4.51), was associated with a higher mental health component score (MCS) for HRQoL after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, chronic diseases, anthropometric data and all other lifestyle behaviors. Engaging in a greater number of lower-risk lifestyle behaviors was positively correlated with a better HRQoL. Multiple lifestyle behaviors were associated with HRQoL among the elderly individuals with prediabetes in rural areas. These results highlight the need for multiple lifestyle behavioral interventions to maintain and improve HRQoL in the elderly individuals with prediabetes.
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Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is globally distributed and can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. While vaccines are not available for prophylaxis, there are limited therapeutic options... more
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is globally distributed and can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. While vaccines are not available for prophylaxis, there are limited therapeutic options which often do not result in eradication of parasites from patients. ME49 is a cystogenic strain of T. gondii with a potential as a vaccine candidate. Excretory and secretory (ES) proteins are thought to play crucial roles in host-parasite interactions. Hence, we predicted and functionally annotated the ES proteins in T. gondii ME49 using public databases. ES proteins were further examined for the characteristics and possible functions through gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and analyses of metabolic pathways, enzyme code distribution (EC distributing) and protein domains. The potential antigenicity of T. gondii ME49 ES proteins was evaluated for the first time using Abundance of Antigenic Regions (AAR) value to predict the antigenic potential by measuring sequence length and number of antigenic regions. The results showed that the ES proteins have different AAR values at RNA and microarray level. Our studies provide valuable information for future experimental studies, including the identification of novel ES proteins of therapeutic, diagnostic and immunoprophylactic interests.
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ObjectivesTo explore the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), the characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD among Chinese college girls.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingChangsha, China.ParticipantsA total of... more
ObjectivesTo explore the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), the characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD among Chinese college girls.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingChangsha, China.ParticipantsA total of 2555 college girls were recruited using multistage cluster random sampling.Outcome measuresA self-report questionnaire was used to measure sociodemographic information, characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD. Additionally, a Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure pain severity.ResultsOf the 2555 girls, 1306 had experienced PD, representing a 51.1% prevalence. In addition, the prevalence rates of mild, moderate and severe pain in PD were 18.1%, 27.7% and 5.4%, respectively. The most common symptoms associated with PD were cramps (96.9%), weakness (70.0%), backache (65.1%), facial blemishes (55.3%) and irritability (55.3%). Commonly used self-care strategies for managing PD comprised reducing physical activity (94.6%), keeping ...
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Background: Sleep problems have become the most common complaints among elderly adults. There are a few studies indentified prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors in nursing home setting.Therefore, our study aim to... more
Background: Sleep problems have become the most common complaints among elderly adults. There are a few studies indentified prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors in nursing home setting.Therefore, our study aim to examine the prevalence of poor sleep quality, its risk factors, and their interactions among Chinese elderly adults in nursing homes. Methods: A total of 817 elderly residents from 24 nursing homes were included in this cross-sectional study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI >5. Multiple binary logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between risk factors and poor sleep quality. An additional interaction model was used to analyse the interaction between risk factors. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 67.3% (95% CI: 64.0, 70.5%) among elderly adults in nursing homes. Multiple binary logi...
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The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in China continues to increase. Depression, a common mental disorder in this population, may confer a higher likelihood of worse health outcomes. An estimate of the prevalence of this... more
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in China continues to increase. Depression, a common mental disorder in this population, may confer a higher likelihood of worse health outcomes. An estimate of the prevalence of this disorder among PLHA is required to guide public health policy, but the published results vary widely and lack accuracy in China. The goal of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among PLHA in China. A systematic literature search of several databases was conducted from inception to June 2017, focusing on studies reporting on depression or depressive symptoms among PLHA in China. The risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The overall prevalence estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Differences according to study-level characteristics were examined using stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression. Seventy-four observationa...
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Background: There is limited information on the impact of effective healthcare provider-patient communication on facility-based delivery in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of communication in the maternity... more
Background: There is limited information on the impact of effective healthcare provider-patient communication on facility-based delivery in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of communication in the maternity ward, identify facilitators and barriers to healthcare provider-patient communication, and understand how they affect maternal healthcare.
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Road traffic accident (RTA), an unexpected traumatic event, may not only lead to death and serious physical injuries, but also could put survivors at an increased risk for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, particularly acute stress... more
Road traffic accident (RTA), an unexpected traumatic event, may not only lead to death and serious physical injuries, but also could put survivors at an increased risk for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, particularly acute stress disorder (ASD). Early assessment of trauma-related psychological responses is important because acute trauma responses in the early post-traumatic period are among the robust predictors of long-term mental health problems. However, estimates of the prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors varied considerably across studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to identify the pooled prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors. A systematic literature search in the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Embase and Web of Science was performed from their inception dates to December 2017. Subject headings were used to identify relevant articles, and the search strategy was adjusted across databases. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated by Cochran'...
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Abstract To explore associated risk factors and their interactions with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among the elderly with prediabetes in rural areas in China. A nested case–control study was conducted in a fixed cohort to identify the risk... more
Abstract To explore associated risk factors and their interactions with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among the elderly with prediabetes in rural areas in China. A nested case–control study was conducted in a fixed cohort to identify the risk factors for T2DM among the elderly with prediabetes in rural areas of Yiyang City in China. A total of 37 elderly with T2DM were included in the cases group and 111 elderly subjects with prediabetes were matched in the control group. Data related to sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behavior, and anthropometric variables were collected by trained staff using standard tools. The risk factors for T2DM were determined using conditional logistic regression analysis, and their additive interactions were also explored. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis results showed that overweight/obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–12.28), family history of diabetes (OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.03–12.81), physically inactive (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.14–8.30), high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.27–7.80), and inadequate diabetes-specific health literacy (DSHL) (OR = 3.92, 95% CI: 1.14–13.48) increased the risk for T2DM. Additive interactions for T2DM were observed between a family history of diabetes and high WHR with a relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) of 10.02 (95% CI: 4.25, 15.78), and between high WHR and overweight or obesity, with an RERI of 3.90 (95% CI: 0.36, 7.44). The independent risk factors for T2DM are overweight or obesity, high WHR, family history of diabetes, physically inactive, and inadequate DSHL. High WHR as a risk factor for T2DM has additive interactions with family history of diabetes and overweight or obesity.
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Studies investigating the association between early sexual debut and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have mainly focused on Africans or females but rarely on men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. This study, therefore,... more
Studies investigating the association between early sexual debut and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have mainly focused on Africans or females but rarely on men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. This study, therefore, mainly aimed at exploring the association between early sexual debut and HIV infection among MSM in Shenzhen, China. A total of 533 MSM were enrolled in this study using a convenience sampling method. Information about sociodemographic characteristics and risky sexual behaviors was collected. It was found that the prevalence of HIV infection was 24.2% among this study population and 66.4% of the MSM reported having had vaginal sexual intercourse with females. The mean ages at first vaginal sexual intercourse, first anal sexual intercourse, and first sexual intercourse were 21.38, 22.43, and 19.87 years, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the MSM who experienced early anal sexual debut were more likely to be infected w...