Intervention control of aerobic exercise in maintaining quality of life and pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension is a serious complication in the treatment of maintenance hemodialysis patients,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and threatens their life safety.Prevention,treatment and improvement of pulmonary hypertension are of great significance to improve the quality of life of patients.AIM To investigate the intervention and control of pedal-powered bicycle in maintaining quality of life and pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients.METHODS 73 patients with maintenance hemadialysis combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension at a hemodialysis center in a certain hospital from May 2021 to May 2022 are selected.Patients are divided into two groups,37 cases in the control group(group C)and 36 cases in the intervention group(group I).Patients are divided into two groups,group C is treated with oral administration of betaglandin sodium combined with routine nursing care.Based on group C,group I conducts power cycling exercises.RESULTS After treatment,group I patients had higher muscle strength,36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores,and Kidney Disease Targets Areas scores;The 6-minute walk distance test index level was higher and the Borg score was lower;The group I had lower systolic blood pressure,greater vital capacity,higher positive emotion,lower systolic pulmonary artery pressure index level,higher arterial partial oxygen pressure level,lower pulmonary vascular resistance index level,and higher blood oxygen saturation level[158.91±11.89 vs 152.56±12.81,1795.01±603.18 vs 1907.20±574.15,24.00(22.00,29.00)vs 24.00(22.00,28.00),P<0.001].CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise combined with Western medicine treatment can effectively improve patients'pulmonary hypertension,alleviate their negative emotions,and enable them to achieve a higher level of quality of life.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and quality control lie at the heart of subarachnoid hemorrhage

The dramatic increase in intracranial pressure after subarachnoid hemorrhage leads to a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure and a reduction in cerebral blood flow.Mitochondria are directly affected by direct factors such as ischemia,hypoxia,excitotoxicity,and toxicity of free hemoglobin and its degradation products,which trigger mitochondrial dysfunction.Dysfunctional mitochondria release large amounts of reactive oxygen species,inflammatory mediators,and apoptotic proteins that activate apoptotic pathways,further damaging cells.In response to this array of damage,cells have adopted multiple mitochondrial quality control mechanisms through evolution,including mitochondrial protein quality control,mitochondrial dynamics,mitophagy,mitochondrial biogenesis,and intercellular mitochondrial transfer,to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis under pathological conditions.Specific interventions targeting mitochondrial quality control mechanisms have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies for subarachnoid hemorrhage.This review provides an overview of recent research advances in mitochondrial pathophysiological processes after subarachnoid hemorrhage,particularly mitochondrial quality control mechanisms.It also presents potential therapeutic strategies to target mitochondrial quality control in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Investigation of the quality of life,mental status in patients with gynecological cancer and its influencing factors

BACKGROUND Having a gynecological tumor or undergoing treatment can be a traumatic experience for women,as it affects their self-image and sexual relationships and can lead to psychological reactions.Psychological adjustment following cancer occurrence remains a key issue among the survivors.AIM To examine the current status of quality of life(QoL),anxiety,and depression in patients with gynecological cancer and to analyze the factors associated with it.METHODS Data for 160 patients with gynecological malignancies treated at Shanxi Bethune Hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Patients’QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Questionnaire.Their emotional status was evaluated using the Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale.The associated factors of anxiety and depression were analyzed.RESULTS The overall QoL score of the patients 6 months after surgery was 76.39±3.63 points.This included low levels of social and emotional function and severe fatigue and pain.The scores for physiological,functional,emotional,social,and family well-being exhibited an upward trend following surgery compared with those before surgery.One month after surgery,some patients experienced anxiety and depression,with an incidence of 18.75%and 18.13%,respectively.Logistic analysis revealed that good sleep was a protective factor against anxiety and depression in patients with gynecological tumors,whereas physical pain was a risk factor.CONCLUSION Patients with gynecological malignancies often experience anxiety and depression.By analyzing the factors that affect patients’QoL,effective nursing measures can be administered.

Effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life in preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis

AIM:To evaluate the effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life(HRQoL)of preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis(CEL).METHODS:A prospective self-controlled study was conducted in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.Children aged from 5 to 7y whom were diagnosed with CEL and underwent phacoemulsification with scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and their parents were enrolled in this study.All of them completed the child and proxy(parental)PedsQL™4.0 before and after the surgery.Their preoperative scores were compared to their postoperative ones.Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender and preoperative bilateral presenting visual acuity of the children.RESULTS:Thirty-two children with CEL successfully underwent surgery without any complications,among whom 8 had monocular surgery and 24 had binocular surgery.Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were completed by 32 child-parent pairs.Surgical intervention could significantly improve the vision of affected children(P<0.001).The medians of physical,psychosocial and total health scores self-reported by the children were 68.75(62.50,81.25),65.00(60.00,80.00)and 67.39(60.87,78.26)preoperatively and were 93.75(87.50,100.00),90.00(83.33,96.67)and 89.13(85.32,95.65)postoperatively.The preoperative scores of the affected children were significantly lower in all scales than age-matched healthy children(P<0.001).All the postoperative scores were significantly higher than the preoperative scores in affected children and their parents(P<0.001).In the physical functioning evaluation,the preoperative score reported by parents of girls was higher than parents of boys(P=0.041),and the postoperative score of girls was higher than that of boys(P=0.036).CONCLUSION:CEL is associated with significantly worse quality of life in preschool children.Surgical intervention can significantly improve the HRQoL in affected children from both personal and family perspective.

Effect of comprehensive nursing on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke(IS)is a widely recognized disease characterized by high preva-lence,mortality,morbidity,disability,and recurrence rates.It ranks prominently in terms of mortality,constituting 60%-80%of stroke cases.AIM To explore the impact of comprehensive nursing care on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with IS.METHODS This study comprised 172 patients with IS admitted to our hospital between February 2018 to March 2021.The participants were divided into two groups,namely the control group(n=80)receiving routine care and the research group(n=92)receiving comprehensive care.Various assessment scales,including the standard swallowing function assessment scale(SSA),National Institutes of Health Stroke scale(NIHSS),European stroke scale(ESS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),Barthel index(BI),and the motor func-tion assessment scale(MAS),were employed to evaluate the improvement in swallowing function,neurological deficits,clinical outcomes,anxiety,depression,daily living activities,and motor function before and after care.Furthermore,the study compared the occurrence of adverse reactions during the nursing period,life quality before and after the intervention,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction between the two groups.RESULTS After the nursing intervention,the research group exhibited significantly improved SSA and NIHSS scores compared to the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,both groups demonstrated significant reductions in SAS and SDS scores(P<0.05),with the research group showing more obvious advantages(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the research group displayed significantly better ESS,BI,and MAS scores(P<0.05),coupled with a lower incidence of adverse reactions(P<0.05).Additionally,the research group demonstrated markedly higher levels of life quality,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Comprehensive nursing effectively improved swallowing function,quality of life,and patient satisfaction,high-lighting its clinical significance.

Analysis of factors impacting postoperative pain and quality of life in patients with mixed hemorrhoids:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids are among the most common and frequently encountered chronic anorectal diseases in anorectal surgery.They are venous clusters formed by con-gestion,expansion,and flexion of the venous plexus in the lower part of the rec-tum.Mixed hemorrhoids bleed easily and recurrently,and this can result in severe anemia.Hence,they may have a negative effect on the health of the patient and surgical treatment is required.Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy has been widely used since 1937 for the treatment of grade III and IV hemorrhoids.How-ever,most patients experience different degrees of postoperative pain that may cause anxiety.with mixed hemorrhoids post-surgery.METHODS The clinical data of patients with mixed hemorrhoids who underwent Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy were collected retrospectively.The basic character-istics of the enrolled patients with mixed hemorrhoids were recorded,and based on the Goligher clinical grading system,the hemorrhoids were classified as grades III or IV.The endpoint of this study was the disappearance of pain in all patients.Quantitative data were presented as mean±SD,such as age,pain score,and QoL score.Student’s t-test was used to compare the groups.RESULTS A total of 164 patients were enrolled.The distribution of the visual analog scale pain scores of all patients at 3,7,14 and 28 d after surgery showed that post-surgery pain was significantly reduced with the passage of time.Fourteen days after the operation,the pain had completely disappeared in some patients.Twenty-eight days after the surgery,none of the patients experienced any pain.Comparing the World Health Or-ganization Quality of Life-BREF self-reporting questionnaire scores of patients between 14 and 28 d after surgery,we observed that the quality-of-life scores of the patients post-surgery had significantly improved.There were six items that were compared at 14-and 28-d post-surgery.The mean QoL score 28 d after surgery(4.79±0.46)was higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(3.79±0.57).The mean health condition score 28 d after surgery(4.80±0.41)was also higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(4.01±0.62).The mean physical health score 28 d after surgery(32.10±2.96)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(23.41±2.85).The mean psychological health score 28 d after surgery(27.22±1.62)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(21.37±1.70).The mean social relations score 28 d after surgery(12.21±1.59)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(6.32±1.66).The mean surrounding environment score 28 d after surgery(37.13±2.88)was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery(28.42±2.86).The differences in quality-of-life scores at day 14 and day 28 post-surgery were ob-served to be statistically significant(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy can significantly improve the postoperative QoL of patients.Age,sex,and the number of surgical resections were important factors influencing Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.

Application of Specialized Group Management in the Quality Control of Perioperative Nursing

Objective:To explore the role of specialized group management in the quality control of perioperative nursing.Methods:45 surgical nurses from our hospital were selected as the research subjects.Traditional operating room management was adopted from July 2019 to June 2020,and specialized group management was adopted from July 2020 to June 2021.The surgeon’s satisfaction,surgical nurses’core professional competence,and surgical patients’satisfaction were obtained through surveys and the results were analyzed.Results:Surgeon satisfaction before the implementation of specialized group management was significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Besides,surgical nurses’core professional competency scores before the implementation of specialized group management were significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Lastly,surgical patients’satisfaction before the implementation of specialized group management was significantly lower than after its implementation(P<0.05).Conclusion:Specialized group management helps to improve the quality of perioperative care and should be applied in clinical practice.

Improvement in quality of life in depressed patients following verum acupuncture or electroacupuncture plus paroxetine:A randomized controlled study of 157 cases

Depressed patients with scores of 17 or more on the 17 items of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were treated with the antidepressant drug paroxetine. They also underwent verum acupuncture or electroacupuncture at Baihui （GV20） and Yintang （GV29）. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version showed a significant increase in the total scores of patients who underwent verum acupuncture and electroacupuncture for 6 weeks compared with those who were given paroxetine only; significantly increased physical domain and social relationship scores in verum acupuncture patients compared with paroxetine only; and significantly elevated psychological domain scores with electroacupuncture compared with paroxetine only. These results indicate that both verum acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve quality of life in depressed patients undergoing paroxetine treatment,

Unilateral versus bilateral stapes surgery: A comparative study on auditory outcome and quality of life

Otosclerosis is a well-known disease which mainly affects middle-aged female patients,causing conductive or mixed hearing loss.Diagnosis is essentially made through a complete audiometric battery testing,while treatment substantially relies on stapes surgery.In this study,we analyzed audiometric and Quality-of-Life data from 33 patients in order to refine the surgical indications(unilateral versus bilateral stapes surgery)and assess the best technique(stapedotomy versus partial stapedectomy)and timing of treatment.The original questionnaire OTOS,in the Italian language,was administered to all patients.In this study,most of the patients were female(18/33),with a mean age of 53 years old.Both surgical techniques appear to be effective with no significant difference in post-operative Air Bone Gap.OTOS questionnaire appeared to be effective in assessing quality of life in patients treated by stapes surgery.Post-operative QoL appeared to be similar in bilaterally and unilaterally operated patients,suggesting that a contralateral intervention after effective surgery should be undertaken only if expressly requested by the patient.

Analysis of the Nursing Effect of Continuity of Care on Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Unstable Angina and its Impact on Quality of Life

Objective:To analyze the effect of using continuity of care for elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)with unstable angina pectoris(UAP)and its impact on their quality of life.Methods:100 cases of elderly patients with CHD with UAP admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to March 2023 were selected and grouped into an observation group and a control group of 50 cases each according to the randomized number table method.The nursing effect and quality of life of the observation group(continuity nursing)and the control group(routine nursing)were compared.Results:The total effective rate of nursing care was 96.00%observation group and 80.00%for the control group,and the differences were significant(χ2=6.061,P<0.05).Patients in the observation group had fewer episodes(1.42±0.21)times/week and a shorter duration(5.46±0.39)min,which were better than the control group(t=3.465,2.973;P<0.05).The depression self-rating depression scale(SDS)score(42.16±6.64)and anxiety self-rating scale(SAS)score(32.26±7.35)in the observation group were lower and the quality of life was higher as compared to that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Continuous nursing care improved the nursing effect of elderly CHD with UAP patients,promoted the alleviation of UAP symptoms,improved patient mentality,and improved their quality of life.Hence,continuous nursing care possesses significant clinical application value.

Effect of long-acting testosterone undecanoate treatment on quality of life in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome： a double blind randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to investigate the effect of intramuscular injection of testosterone undecanoate on overall quality of life （QoL） in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome （TDS）. A randomized controlled trial over a 12-month period was carried out in 2009. One hundred and twenty men aged 40 years and above with a diagnosis of TDS （serum total testosterone 〈12 nmol 1-1 and total Aging Male Symptom （AMS） scores ≥ 27） were invited to participate. Interventions comprised intramuscular injection of either placebo or 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate, given at weeks O, 6, 18, 30 and 42. This paper presents the secondary analysis of QoL changes measured in the scores of Short-Form-12 （SF-12） scale at baseline, weeks 30 and 48 after the first injection. A total of 56/60 and 58/60 men from the active treatment and placebo group, respectively, completed the study. At week 48, before adjusting for baseline differences, the QoL of men in the treatment group improved significantly in five out of the eight domains on SF-12. The physical health composite scores improved 4.0 points from a baseline of 41.9±7.0 in the treatment group compared to 0.8 point from a baseline of 43.7--7.1 in the placebo group （F=3.652, P=0.027）. The mental health composite scores improved 4.4 points from a baseline of 37.1±9.0 in the treatment group compared to 1.0 points from a baseline of 37.6±7.9 in the placebo group （F=4.514, P=-0.018）. After adjusting for baseline differences, significant improvement was observed in mental health composite scores, but not in physical health composite scores. LQng-acting testosterone undecanoate significanUy improved the mental health component of QoL in men with TDS.

Effects of mindfulness meditation on trait mindfulness,perceived stress,emotion regulation,and quality of life in hemodialysis patients:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:This study aimed to examine the effects of mindfulness meditation on trait mindfulness,perceived stress,emotion regulation,and quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.Methods:An experimental study with repeated measures design was conducted among a sample of 74 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis between January and May 2021 in the dialysis center at Jahra hospital,Kuwait.The patients were randomly assigned to the experimental(n?37)and control groups(n?37).The experimental group participated in 30-min mindfulness meditation sessions(three sessions a week for five weeks)held during their hemodialysis sessions;the participants in the control group were instructed to sit with their eyes closed and relaxed for 30 min three times a week for five weeks during hemodialysis sessions.The dependent variables of both groups were measured at baseline(T0),middle of intervention(T1),and end of intervention(T2)using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale(MAAS),Perceived Stress Scale(PSS),Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(ERQ),and Kidney Disease Quality of Life(KDQOL-36)questionnaire.The study was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov(Identifier:NCT05176730).Results:The repeated measures ANOVA(within-subject)results for the experimental group showed that mindfulness meditation had significantly decreased perceived stress by the end of the intervention.Also,mindfulness meditation improved mindfulness,emotion regulation,and kidney disease-related quality of life in the experimental group,and this improvement occurred significantly at both T1 and T2.The repeated measures ANOVA(within and between-subject)results showed that the experimental group,as compared to the control group,had lower perceived stress,higher trait mindfulness,higher emotional regulation,and higher kidney disease-related quality of life over time.Conclusions:The positive findings of this study offer health policy-makers and hospital administrators a promising tool to use with patients undergoing hemodialysis as a way to manage stress and improve quality of life.However,this study should be replicated in multiple settings with follow-up assessments.

Deep learning models semi-automatic training system for quality control of transthoracic echocardiography

Objective To explore the value of deep learning(DL)models semi-automatic training system for automatic optimization of clinical image quality control of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).Methods Totally 1250 TTE videos from 402 patients were retrospectively collected,including 490 apical four chamber(A4C),310 parasternal long axis view of left ventricle(PLAX)and 450 parasternal short axis view of great vessel(PSAX GV).The videos were divided into development set(245 A4C,155 PLAX,225 PSAX GV),semi-automated training set(98 A4C,62 PLAX,90 PSAX GV)and test set(147 A4C,93 PLAX,135 PSAX GV)at the ratio of 5∶2∶3.Based on development set and semi-automatic training set,DL model of quality control was semi-automatically iteratively optimized,and a semi-automatic training system was constructed,then the efficacy of DL models for recognizing TTE views and assessing imaging quality of TTE were verified in test set.Results After optimization,the overall accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score of DL models for recognizing TTE views in test set improved from 97.33%,97.26%,97.26%and 97.26%to 99.73%,99.65%,99.77%and 99.71%,respectively,while the overall accuracy for assessing A4C,PLAX and PSAX GV TTE as standard views in test set improved from 89.12%,83.87%and 90.37%to 93.20%,90.32%and 93.33%,respectively.Conclusion The developed DL models semi-automatic training system could improve the efficiency of clinical imaging quality control of TTE and increase iteration speed.

A strength model for cement-stabilized mud subjected to various curing temperatures and its early-stage quality control

The influence of curing temperature on the strength development of cement-stabilized mud has been well documented in terms of strength-increase rate and ultimate strength.However,the strength development model is not mature for the extremely early stages.In addition,there is a lack of studies on quality control methods based on early-stage strength development.This paper presents a strength model for cement-stabilized mud to address these gaps,considering various curing temperatures and early-stage behaviors.In this study,a series of laboratory experiments was conducted on two types of muds treated with Portland blast furnace cement and ordinary Portland cement under four different temperatures.The results indicate that elevated temperatures expedite strength development and lead to higher long-term strength.The proposed model,which combines a three-step conversion process and a hyperbolic model at the reference temperature,enables accurate estimate of the strength development for cement-treated mud with any proportions cured under various temperatures.With this model,a practical early quality control method is introduced for applying cement-stabilized mud in field projects.The back-analysis parameters obtained from a 36-h investigation at temperature of 60C demonstrated a sufficient accuracy in predicting strength levels in practical applications.

The Life of a Protein Molecule——Protein Quality Control

The research progress in molecular chaperones, unfolded protein response （UPR） and ER-associated degradation （ERAD） involved in the protein quality control was summarized in this paper, and then the existing problems and the future devel- opment prospect were also discussed. It was pointed out that the life process of protein experienced four stages including synthesizing, folding, assembling and degradation, while each stage required strict quality control. In endoplasmic reticulum （ER）, a variety of proteins had been synthesized, folded and modified to form func- tional proteins with certain conformation. When the folding was blocked in ER, the unfolded proteins would aggregate and induce the UPR, which up-regulated the level of modification enzymes folded by a series of molecular chaperones and proteins to help them accomplish folding and assembling. If these proteins were still folded incorrectly, they would enter into ERAD for being degraded.

An Intelligent Quality Control Method for Manufacturing Processes Based on a Human–Cyber–Physical Knowledge Graph

Quality management is a constant and significant concern in enterprises.Effective determination of correct solutions for comprehensive problems helps avoid increased backtesting costs.This study proposes an intelligent quality control method for manufacturing processes based on a human–cyber–physical(HCP)knowledge graph,which is a systematic method that encompasses the following elements:data management and classification based on HCP ternary data,HCP ontology construction,knowledge extraction for constructing an HCP knowledge graph,and comprehensive application of quality control based on HCP knowledge.The proposed method implements case retrieval,automatic analysis,and assisted decision making based on an HCP knowledge graph,enabling quality monitoring,inspection,diagnosis,and maintenance strategies for quality control.In practical applications,the proposed modular and hierarchical HCP ontology exhibits significant superiority in terms of shareability and reusability of the acquired knowledge.Moreover,the HCP knowledge graph deeply integrates the provided HCP data and effectively supports comprehensive decision making.The proposed method was implemented in cases involving an automotive production line and a gear manufacturing process,and the effectiveness of the method was verified by the application system deployed.Furthermore,the proposed method can be extended to other manufacturing process quality control tasks.

Renal tubular epithelial cell quality control mechanisms as therapeutic targets in renal fibrosis

Renal fibrosis is a devastating consequence of progressive chronic kidney disease,representing a major public health challenge worldwide.The underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis remain unclear,and effective treatments are still lacking.Renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)maintain kidney function,and their dysfunction has emerged as a critical contributor to renal fibrosis.Cellular quality control comprises several components,including telomere homeostasis,ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS),autophagy,mitochondrial homeostasis(mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism),endoplasmic reticulum(ER,unfolded protein response),and lysosomes.Failures in the cellular quality control of RTECs,including DNA,protein,and organelle damage,exert profibrotic functions by leading to senescence,defective autophagy,ER stress,mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction,apoptosis,fibroblast activation,and immune cell recruitment.In this review,we summarize recent advances in understanding the role of quality control components and intercellular crosstalk networks in RTECs,within the context of renal fibrosis.

Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide,leading to morbidity and mortality.Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)have therapeutic benefits,including improved postoperative quality of life(QoL)and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome.In this article,we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions.Preoperative health status,age,length of intensive care unit stay,operative risk,type of procedure,and other pre-,intra-,and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL.Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery,but it improves in the following period.CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term.Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity,QoL,and frailty following cardiac surgery.

The Impact of Binge Drinking among Brazilian University Students on Mental Health and Quality of Life: A Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Study

Background: The restrictive lockdown measures that were introduced as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic imposed constraints that affected university students’ drinking habits and mental health. Methods: The current study evaluated the rate of binge drinking among university students as they returned to normal life post-lockdown and whether binge drinking affected their mental health and quality of life. A cross-sectional study included 1382 university students (18 - 24 years) of one private Southwestern university in Brazil. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief were used. Data were collected after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period (from October 2021 to May 2022). Results: 52.6% of the students reported binge drinking, and 35.6% reported symptoms of depression. Binge drinkers were 1.41 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms when compared with non-binge drinkers, and binge drinking was a risk factor for lower quality of life in all three domains (physical, psychological and environmental). Conclusion: Our study highlights an increased prevalence of binge drinking in university students after the pandemic lockdown. The rise in binge drinking rates was linked to depressive symptoms and worsening of quality of life.

Quality-adjusted life years and surgical waiting list:Systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND The quality-adjusted life year(QALY)is a metric that is increasingly used today in the field of health economics to evaluate the value of different medical treatments and procedures.Surgical waiting lists(SWLs)represent a pressing problem in public healthcare.The QALY measure has rarely been used in the context of surgery.It would be interesting to know how many QALYs are lost by patients on SWLs.AIM To investigate the relationship between QALYs and SWLs in a systematic review of the scientific literature.METHODS The study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement.An unlimited search was carried out in PubMed,updated on January 19,2024.Data on the following variables were investigated and analyzed:Specialty,country of study,procedure under study,scale used to measure QALYs,the use of a theoretical or real-life model,objectives of the study and items measured,the economic value assigned to the QALY in the country in question,and the results and conclusions published.RESULTS Forty-eight articles were selected for the study.No data were found regarding QALYs lost on SWLs.The specialties in which QALYs were studied the most in relation to the waiting list were urology and general surgery,with 15 articles each.The country in which the most studies of QALYs were carried out was the United States(n=21),followed by the United Kingdom(n=9)and Canada(n=7).The most studied procedure was organ transplantation(n=39),including 15 kidney,14 liver,5 heart,4 lung,and 1 intestinal.Arthroplasty(n=4),cataract surgery(n=2),bariatric surgery(n=1),mosaicplasty(n=1),and septoplasty(n=1)completed the surgical interventions included.Thirty-nine of the models used were theoretical(the most frequently applied being the Markov model,n=34),and nine were real-life.The survey used to measure quality of life in 11 articles was the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions,but in 32 articles the survey was not specified.The willingness-to-pay per QALY gained ranged from$100000 in the United States to€20000 in Spain.CONCLUSION The relationship between QALYs and SWLs has only rarely been studied in the literature.The rate of QALYs lost on SWLs has not been determined.Future research is warranted to address this issue.