Association between Covid-19 sources of information, beliefs, and vaccination rates: an EU-wide survey.

BACKGROUND: Misinformation hampers vaccine uptake. The European Union (EU) employed a coordinated effort to curb misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, we investigated relationships between sources of information, vaccine safety/effectiveness, satisfaction with government vaccination strategy, and vaccination intent. METHODS: We used cross-sectional survey data (May 2021) from Flash Eurobarometer 494, a population-adjusted dataset comprised of a representative sample of those ≥15 years from 27 EU nations. We employed a latent class analysis to create clusters of information sources as the independent variable and beliefs in vaccine safety/efficacy, satisfaction with government vaccination strategy, and vaccine intent as four outcome variables. We first estimated the association between source clusters and each of the first three outcomes separately. Then, using these three as intermediate variables, we employed structural equation modeling to estimate the relationship between sources and vaccine intent. We adjusted for individual and country-level variables. RESULTS: Among 23 012 respondents, four clusters of information sources emerged: (1) national authorities/health professionals (n = 9602; 42%), (2) mostly health professionals (6184; 27%), (3) mixed (n = 1705; 17%) and (4) social media/family/friends (n = 5524; 24%). Using cluster (3) as the referent, we found decreasing odds of beliefs in vaccine safety/effectiveness, satisfaction and vaccine intent across clusters (1), (2) and (4), respectively. Demographics played a role. CONCLUSION: In the context of the Covid pandemic, these results provide the first EU-wide estimates of the association between sources of information about vaccine safety/effectiveness, satisfaction and vaccine intent. The coordinated approach promulgated by the EU to minimize misinformation provides a model for managing future pandemics.

Association between Physical Activity and 32 Chronic Conditions among Spanish Adults.

The objective was to analyse the association between physical activity and the risk of suffering from 32 chronic conditions using a large representative sample of Spanish adults. We utilised the dataset of the last edition of the Spanish National Health Survey, which was conducted in the year 2017. This dataset included a total of 23,089 adults between the ages of 15 and 103 years. The average age was 53.4 years (standard deviation 18.9 years). Regarding sex distribution, 54.1% of the participants were females. The instrument used to measure physical activity was the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire. The question used to evaluate if the participants suffered from chronic conditions was "Have you ever been diagnosed with chronic condition?". This question was asked for 32 different chronic conditions. The association between low levels of physical activity (exposure) and chronic conditions (outcome) was assessed with multivariable logistic regression analyses. The highest prevalence of chronic conditions was found in the group doing less than 600 MET (metabolic equivalent of task)-min/week of physical activity (in 28 of the 32 conditions analyzed). The lowest prevalence was in the group doing at least 1200 MET-min/week (in 30 of the 32). Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that less than 600 MET-min/week of physical activity was significantly associated with a higher risk of 19 chronic conditions. All these significant associations, except for hypertension, were also maintained in those doing less than 1200 MET-min/week. In conclusion, higher physical activity is a protective factor against the risk of suffering from chronic conditions, with the lowest prevalence of chronic conditions in people doing more than 1200 MET-min/week. International physical activity guidelines should recommend at least 1200 MET-min/week to prevent the risk of chronic conditions.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in relation to reproductive parameters in young men.

BACKGROUND: There has been a decrease in sperm concentration in recent years. Concurrently, there were important dietary changes, including an increase in sugar-sweetened beverage intake (SSB). The relation between SSB and male reproduction functions in humans are barely described in the literature. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 209 participants (18-23 years old) recruited during one year in Murcia, Spain. All men provided semen and blood samples the same day. SSB consumption was evaluated using a 101-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Reproductive hormones were analysed from serum samples, obtaining levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin B, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and testosterone. The evaluation of semen analysis followed the WHO guidelines and consisted of seminal volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, percentage of morphologically normal sperm, and percentage of motile sperm. SSB intake association with semen parameters and hormone levels were examined using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Men in the highest quartile of the SSB intake had a higher percentage of morphologically normal sperm, 37.4% [6.1, 68.3] (p, trend=0.047) and higher estradiol levels (9.5% [-3.5, 22.5] (p, trend=0.047) than those in the first quartile. SSB intake was unrelated to other semen quality parameters or reproductive hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that sperm morphology and estradiol levels may be associated with sugar-sweetened beverage intake. These findings might be explained by physiological metabolism homeostasis, though more studies are required to confirm these results and draw conclusions in other male populations.

Sedation with Propofol plus Paracetamol in External Cephalic Version: An Observational Study.

Although the influence of neuraxial anesthesia or sedation with remifentanil in external cephalic version (ECV) is widely known, ECV results using propofol have not been previously analyzed. This study aimed to evaluate ECV outcomes when propofol was used. An observational analysis of ECV was performed between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020. ECV was accomplished with tocolysis and propofol. One hundred and thirty-one pregnant women were recruited. The propofol mean dose was 156.1 mg (SD 6.1). A cephalic presentation was achieved in 61.1% (80/131) of the pregnant women. In total, 56.7% (38/67) of pregnant women with cephalic presentation at labor had a spontaneous delivery, 26.9% (18/67) had an operative delivery, and an intrapartum urgent cesarean section was performed in 16.4% (11/67). In total, 46 pregnant women (35.9%) were scheduled for an elective cesarean section due to non-cephalic presentation. The emergency cesarean section rate during the following 24 h was 10.7% (14/131). A major ECV complication arose in 15 cases (11.5%). ECV outcomes when propofol was used seems to be similar to those with other anesthetic adjunct, so sedation with propofol could be an adequate option for ECV. More studies are needed to compare its effectiveness with neuraxial techniques.

[Relationship between anogenital distance and prognosis of prostate cancer.] / Relación entre distancia anogenital y pronóstico del cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVE: Anogenital distance (AGD), the distance from the centre of the anus to the genitals, is a sexually dimorphic phenotype in mammals. Several experimental studies have demonstrated that AGD is a biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure during the masculinisation period of development. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between AGD (as an indirect marker of prenatal hormonal environment) and severity of the surgical specimen and prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total of 119 PCa patients with confirmed biopsy of the tumour. Every participant underwent a physical examination where two variants of the AGD were assessed, a) from the anus to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP) and b) to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS). To assess the association between both AGD and severity and PCa prognosis multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Longer AGDAS was significantly associated with biochemical recurrence and affected margins of the surgical specimen (OR: 2.5; IC 95%:1.2-5.5, and 2.8; IC 95%: 1.1-7.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a higher prenatal androgen exposure, resulting in a longer AGD, is associated with worse prognosis of PCa.

Relación entre distancia anogenital y pronóstico del cáncer de próstata / Relationship between anogenital distance and prognosis of prostate cancer

OBJETIVO: La distancia anogenital (DAG) es un marcador de desarrollo genital que presenta un dimorfismo sexual en mamíferos. Diversos estudios experimentales han demostrado que la DAG al nacimiento refleja la exposición androgénica a la que el feto ha estado expuesto durante su desarrollo intrauterino. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue analizar la asociación entre la DAG (como marcador indirecto del ambiente hormonal intrauterino) y la severidad en la pieza quirúrgica y el pronóstico del cáncer de próstata (CaP). MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio transversal que incluyó 119 pacientes intervenidos de CaP y con confirmación histológica por biopsia. A cada paciente se le realizó una exploración física y se midieron dos variantes de DAG; a) medida desde la inserción posterior del pene en el abdomen bajo al borde superior del ano (DAGAP) y b) medida desde la base posterior del escroto al borde superior del ano (DAGAS). La asociación entre ambas DAG y los indicadores de severidad y pronóstico postquirúrgicos de CaP se realizaron mediante análisis de regresión logística múltiple. RESULTADOS: La DAGAS se asoció significativamente con la recidiva bioquímica y márgenes afectados en la pieza quirúrgica (OR: 2,5; IC 95%: 1,2-5,5, y 2,8; IC 95%: 1,1-7,5, respectivamente). CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestros resultados sugieren que una mayor exposición androgénica prenatal, reflejado en una DAG alargada, estaría asociada con un peor pronóstico del CaP

OBJECTIVE: Anogenital distance (AGD), the distance from the centre of the anus to the genitals, is a sexually dimorphic phenotype in mammals. Several experimental studies have demonstrated that AGD is a biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure during the masculinisation period of development. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between AGD (as an indirect marker of prenatal hormonal environment) and severity of the surgical specimen and prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total of 119 PCa patients with confirmed biopsy of the tumour. Every participant underwent a physical examination where two variants of the AGD were assessed, a) from the anus to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP) and b) to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS). To assess the association between both AGD and severity and PCa prognosis multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Longer AGDAS was significantly associated with biochemical recurrence and affected margins of the surgical specimen (OR: 2.5; IC 95%:1.2-5.5, and 2.8; IC 95%: 1.1-7.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a higher prenatal androgen exposure, resulting in a longer AGD, is associated with worse prognosis of PCa

Relación entre ratio digital 2D: 4D y severidad preoperatoria del cáncer de próstata / Relationship between Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Preoperative Severity of Prostate Cancer

El cociente entre la longitud del segundo y cuarto dedo (2D:4D) de la mano es un rasgo de dimorfismo sexual, presentando los hombres una ratio menor que las mujeres.1 Varios estudios de cohortes2,3 y un metaanálisis,4 han mostrado que la diferencia de género en la ratio de los dedos se asocia con la exposición de andrógenos prenatales. El cociente 2D:4D está inversamente relacionado a la exposición intrauterina de testosterona (T) y directamente relacionado a la de estradiol.2 Existe evidencia que afirma que la ratio 2D:4D podría ser un marcador válido para los niveles hormonales del adulto (T y estrógeno),3 aunque ese dato es controvertido.4Por esa razón, el cociente 2D:4D seha utilizado como un biomarcador no invasivo y retrospectivo para la exposición prenatal de andrógenos, y se ha correlacionado con una amplia gama de enfermedades como el autismo,5 así como la cognición visoespacial y la orientación sexual.6

The quotient between the length of the second and fourth finger (2D:4D) hand is a trait of sexual dimorphism, featuring the men a lower ratio than women.1 Several studies of the cohorts2,3 and a meta-analysis,4 have shown that the difference between The gender ratio of the fingers is associated with the exposure of prenatal androgens. The quotient 2D:4D is inversely related to intrauterine testosterone (T) exposure and directly related to that of estradiol.2 There is evidence which states that the 2D:4D ratio could be a valid marker for adult hormone levels (T and estrogen),3 although that data is controversial.4 For that reason, the 2D:4D quotient has been used as a noninvasive and retrospective biomarker for prenatal exposure to androgens, and it has been correlated with a wide range of diseases such as autism,5 as well as such as visuospatial cognition and sexual orientation.6

Breastfeeding Duration and Anogenital Distance in 2-Year-Old Infants.

BACKGROUND: The anogenital distance (AGD) is an anthropometric marker determined by exposures to androgens in utero and throughout the first few months of life. Early exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates have been significantly associated with shortened AGD in boys. Limited studies have explored phthalate concentrations in breast milk and infant formula. OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between breastfeeding duration and AGD measures in infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MALAMA (Medio Ambiente y Lactancia Materna) is a follow-up study of 430 mother-child pairs, from birth to 2 years, from two population-based cohorts in Murcia, Spain. Data were collected through medical visits and telephone surveys from birth to 2 years of age. World Health Organization breastfeeding definitions were used. AGD measurements were assessed in a subsample of 71 boys and 49 girls at the 2-year visit. Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlations, and linear regressions were calculated between AGD and breastfeeding duration. RESULTS: Duration of all types of breastfeeding, especially full breastfeeding (FB), is correlated with AGD measures in boys (p < 0.05). AGDAS (anoscrotal distance) and AGDAP (anopenile distance) were positively associated with FB (ß = 0.004, 95%CI: 0.001-0.007 and ß = 0.003, 95%CI: 0.000-0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A positive correlation between AGD in male infants and the duration of breastfeeding is reported. Inversely, early introduction of infant formula could lead to the reduction of AGD in boys.