eHealth Literacy and Web-Based Health Information-Seeking Behaviors on COVID-19 in Japan: Internet-Based Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, much misinformation and disinformation emerged and spread rapidly via the internet, posing a severe public health challenge. While the need for eHealth literacy (eHL) has been emphasized, few studies have compared the difficulties involved in seeking and using COVID-19 information between adult internet users with low or high eHL. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between eHL and web-based health information-seeking behaviors among adult Japanese internet users. Moreover, this study qualitatively shed light on the difficulties encountered in seeking and using this information and examined its relationship with eHL. METHODS: This cross-sectional internet-based survey (October 2021) collected data from 6000 adult internet users who were equally divided into sample groups by gender, age, and income. We used the Japanese version of the eHL Scale (eHEALS). We also used a Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to assess eHL after we translated it to Japanese. Web-based health information-seeking behaviors were assessed by using a 10-item list of web sources and evaluating 10 topics participants searched for regarding COVID-19. Sociodemographic and other factors (eg, health-related behavior) were selected as covariates. Furthermore, we qualitatively explored the difficulties in information seeking and using. The descriptive contents of the responses regarding difficulties in seeking and using COVID-19 information were analyzed using an inductive qualitative content analysis approach. RESULTS: Participants with high eHEALS and DHLI scores on information searching, adding self-generated information, evaluating reliability, determining relevance, and operational skills were more likely to use all web sources of information about COVID-19 than those with low scores. However, there were negative associations between navigation skills and privacy protection scores when using several information sources, such as YouTube (Google LLC), to search for COVID-19 information. While half of the participants reported no difficulty seeking and using COVID-19 information, participants who reported any difficulties, including information discernment, incomprehensible information, information overload, and disinformation, had lower DHLI score. Participants expressed significant concerns regarding "information quality and credibility," "abundance and shortage of relevant information," "public trust and skepticism," and "credibility of COVID-19-related information." Additionally, they disclosed more specific concerns, including "privacy and security concerns," "information retrieval challenges," "anxieties and panic," and "movement restriction." CONCLUSIONS: Although Japanese internet users with higher eHEALS and total DHLI scores were more actively using various web sources for COVID-19 information, those with high navigation skills and privacy protection used web-based information about COVID-19 cautiously compared with those with lower proficiency. The study also highlighted an increased need for information discernment when using social networking sites in the "Health 2.0" era. The identified categories and themes from the qualitative content analysis, such as "information quality and credibility," suggest a framework for addressing the myriad challenges anticipated in future infodemics.

Dataset on anthropometric measurements of the adult population in Slovakia.

This research on human body dimensions offers data for creating comfortable and efficient workplaces. Focusing on Slovak university students (2003-2023) as a representation of the adult population, the study measured 25 key anthropometric dimensions. 11355 respondents (5219 women and 6136 men) were selected for the analysis. This data, analyzed through descriptive statistics, empowers designers to tailor work environments and their elements to individual needs, minimizing worker fatigue and maximizing productivity. The findings are applicable across various design fields: Informing dimensions and functionalities of tools, workspaces, and controls in industrial design and guiding short- and long-term product development in consumer product design. By analyzing future workforce trends through university students, this research helps ensure workplace designs remain relevant and ergonomically sound.

Core items selection and psychometric properties of the adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder self-report scale-chinese short version (ASRS-CSV).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate the Chinese Short Version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-CSV), addressing the need for culturally appropriate diagnostic tools for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Chinese adult population. METHODS: Utilizing a combination of intergroup difference analysis, factor analysis, and network analysis, we identified core ADHD symptoms pertinent to the Chinese cultural context. The study involved two samples: a vocational and technical school sample (N=1144) and an internet sample (N=1654), comprising adults aged 16-25 years. Reliability, validity, and diagnostic efficacy of the ASRS-CSV were assessed through psychometric testing. RESULTS: The ASRS-CSV demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9) and robust convergent validity (AVE > 0.7). The scale's diagnostic cutoff points were optimized, revealing high sensitivity and specificity for ADHD screening. Cross-cultural analysis highlighted differences in core ADHD symptoms between Chinese and Western populations, underscoring the scale's cultural sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The ASRS-CSV is a reliable, valid, and efficient tool for screening ADHD in Chinese adults, reflecting the socio-cultural nuances of ADHD symptomatology. Its development marks a significant advancement in the field of psychiatry, offering a tailored approach for ADHD assessment in China and contributing to the global discourse on cross-cultural psychiatric diagnosis.

SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Foreign-Born Adults: A Retrospective Study in Verona, Northeast Italy.

We compared SARS-CoV-2 positivity between the foreign-born adult working population and Italians living in the Verona area to investigate whether being a foreign-born adult could confer an increased risk of infection or lead to a diagnostic delay. The present study included 105,774 subjects, aged 18-65 years, tested for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal swabs and analyzed at the University Hospital of Verona between January 2020 and September 2022. A logistic regression model was used, controlling for gender, age, time of sampling, and source of referral. A higher proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in Italian (30.09%) than in foreign-born (25.61%) adults was reported, with a higher proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in men than women in both cohorts analyzed. The difference in swab positivity among Italian and foreign-born adults was the highest in people aged 18-29 years (31.5% vs. 23.3%) and tended to disappear thereafter. Swab positivity became comparable between Italian and foreign-born adults during the vaccination campaign. Multivariable analysis confirmed the lower risk of swab positivity among foreign-born adults (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.82-0.89). In the Verona area, foreign-born adults showed a lower rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity than the native population, likely because of underdiagnosis. Hence, public health should increase attention toward these particularly vulnerable populations.

Polypharmacy Management in Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Literature Review of Italian Interventions.

Background: Potentially inappropriate polypharmacy (PIP) is among the major factors leading to adverse drug reactions, increased healthcare costs, reduced medication adherence, and worsened patient conditions. This study aims to identify existing interventions implemented to monitor and manage polypharmacy in the Italian setting. Methods: A systematic literature review (PROSPERO: CRD42023457049) was carried out according to the PRISMA statement guidelines. PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, and Web of Science were queried without temporal constraints, encompassing all published papers until October 2023. Inclusion criteria followed the PICO model: patients with polypharmacy; interventions to monitor/manage polypharmacy regimen versus no/any intervention; outcomes in terms of intervention effectiveness and cost variation. Results: After duplicate deletion, 153 potentially relevant publications were extracted. Following abstract and full-text screenings, nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 78% (n = 7) were observational studies, 11% (n = 1) were experimental studies, and 11% (n = 1) were two-phase studies. A total of 44% (n = 4) of the studies involved patients aged ≥ 65 years, while 56% (n = 5) were disease-specific. Monitoring was the most prevalent choice of intervention (67%; n = 6). Outcomes were mainly related to levels of polypharmacy (29%; n = 6) and comorbidities (29%; n = 6), effectiveness rates (14%; n = 3), and avoidable costs (9%; n = 2). Conclusions: This review outlines that Italy is still lacking in interventions to monitor/manage PIP, addressing an unmet need in developing patient-tailored strategies for reducing health-system burden.

Factors Associated with the Health-Related Self-Care Capacity of Overweight and Obese People.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between beliefs about obese people and health-related self-care among overweight and obese people, considering sociodemographic aspects. This study adopted a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 207 participants selected through a simple random sampling method. The "Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale" (BAOP) and the "Self-Care Agency Rating Scale-Revised" (ASA-R) questionnaires were applied to data collection. The results showed that 82.6% believed that obesity is a condition the individual cannot control, and 74.4% expressed inadequate self-care regarding their health. A multivariate analysis found that belonging to the adult age group increases the probability of presenting adequate health-related self-care by 4.7 times (95% CI = 1.892-11.790) compared to older adults. The belief that obesity is an uncontrollable condition increases the probability of inadequate self-care by 6.3 times (95% CI = 2.360-16.924), in contrast to the perception that it is a controllable condition. Moreover, overweight people are 0.139 times (95% CI = 0.044-0.443) less likely to have adequate self-care compared to people with obesity. In conclusion, being an adult and having the belief that obesity is a condition that can be controlled is associated with adequate health-related self-care, while being overweight is associated with inadequate health care.

Calculation of reference intervals for the concentrations of α-tocopherol and retinol in serum using indirect data-mining procedures.

BACKGROUND: Establishing adequate reference intervals (RIs) for vitamins A and E is essential for diagnosing and preventing deficiencies. Due to the current boom in data mining and its easy applicability, more laboratories are establishing RIs using indirect methods. Our study aims to obtain RIs using four indirect data-mining procedures (Bhattacharya, Hoffmann, Kosmic, and RefineR) for vitamins A and E. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 8943 individuals were collected to establish the RIs. After using different data cleaning steps and checking whether these data should be divided according to age and gender based on multiple linear regression and variance component analyses, indirect RIs were calculated using specific Excel spreadsheets or R-packages software. RESULTS: A total of 2004 records were eligible. For vitamin A, the RIs obtained were (1.11 - 2.68) µmol/L, (1.13 - 2.70) µmol/L, (1.13 - 2.71) µmol/L, and (1.17 - 2.66) µmol/L using the Bhattacharya, Hoffmann, Kosmic and RefineR approaches, respectively. For vitamin E, these intervals were (17.3 - 49.9) µmol/L (Bhattacharya), (17.3 - 48.9) µmol/L (Hoffmann), (19.6 - 50.3) µmol/L (Kosmic), and (19.4 - 50.9) µmol/L (RefineR). In all cases, the RIs were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Suitable RIs for vitamins A and E were calculated using four indirect methods that are suitable and adapted to our population's demographic characteristics.

Coronavirus-related health literacy level of Turkish adults: psychometric properties of the scale.

An adequate level of health literacy enables people to adopt protective behaviors to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Validated instruments are desired to assess such reactions. This study aims to determine the level of health literacy and validity and reliability of the Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-COVID-Q22) adapted to Turkish. The present study was carried out with 452 participants in Turkey using an online survey. The scale was translated from English to Turkish using the back-translation technique. The cultural adaptation was outlined in the context of establishing the validity and reliability of the instruments. A coronavirus-related health literacy measure was validated (HLS-COVID-Q22) for the Turkish population through exploratory factorial analysis, followed by a confirmatory factorial analysis. The coronavirus-related health literacy level of the participants was found to be 2.92 (±â€…0.51). Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient was found to be 0.95. A four-factor solution was confirmed with eigenvalues > 1.0, suggesting a four-factor solution and explaining 68.84% of the total variance. It was determined that the χ2/df and root mean square residual, root mean square error of approximation and comparative fit index values in the last model had a good fit and that the normed fit index, goodness-of-fit index and adjusted goodness-of-fit index values were acceptable. The coronavirus-related health literacy level of Turkish adults was moderate. HLS-COVID-Q22 was a reliable and valid instrument for measuring coronavirus-related health literacy in the Turkish population. Promoting population-based health literacy and making decisions on accurate and reliable information are important in coping with the epidemic.

Risk factors or indicators for dental caries and tooth wear and their relative importance in adults according to age.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the risk factors for dental caries (DC) and tooth wear (TW) and assess their importance according to age in random French adult patients with >1 partial coronal restoration. METHODS: The data stem from a prospective observational multicentre cross-sectional study and were collected through interviews and clinical examinations. The study involved 96 dentists from 76 hospital and private clinics and included 822 patients. The data analysed in three age groups (18-29, 30-59, and ≥ 60). Univariate logistic regressions were performed and predictions of DC or TW described using decision trees. RESULTS: The study confirmed the major influences of oral hygiene, acceptable sugary/acidic beverage consumption and regular dental visits in reducing DC and TW. Further, it exposed age-related risk factors for DC such being a "new patient" and having an "excessive sugary/acidic beverage consumption" in the youngest adults, or "irregular dental visits" in middle-aged adults and in the oldest. CONCLUSIONS: For appropriate preventive counselling, risk factor assessment should be extensive and age- and dental history-oriented because of unexpected age-related risk factors or risk factor combinations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results are likely to make better-grounded new recommendations given to young adults since their first visits and throughout their dental clinical pathway.

Pilomatrixomas: 31 years of experience in population under and over 18 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Pilomatrixoma, also known as calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a benign cutaneous neoplasm that demonstrates differentiation towards the matrix portion of hair follicles. It is the most common benign cutaneous neoplasm in childhood and youth, although it can occur at any age. With a general incidence ranging from 0.001% to 0.0031% of all cutaneous tumors. There is a slight predilection for females, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.15:1. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study conducted using the electronic database of the dermatopathology department of Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital, from January 1992 to July 2023. Only cases with a histopathological diagnosis of pilomatrixoma, pilomatricoma, and Malherbe's calcifying epithelioma were included. RESULTS: A total of 200 pilomatrixomas were recorded in 177 patients. The tumor predominantly affected females in the pediatric age group, with an average age of 22.98 years in the studied population. The most common location was the head (periorbital region), followed by the upper extremities and trunk. Upon separating the population into pediatric and adult groups, 111 and 89 cases were identified, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We present a detailed study on pilomatrixomas with a comprehensive overview of the demographic, clinical, and epidemiological characteristics of this benign cutaneous neoplasm. The results revealed robust statistical data highlighting the distribution by age, gender, topography, morphology, accompanying symptoms, and frequency of clinical differential diagnoses. This study significantly contributes to the existing knowledge of pilomatrixomas and serves as a valuable reference for future research and clinical practice.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El pilomatrixoma o epitelioma calcificado de Malherbe es una neoplasia cutánea benigna que muestra diferenciación hacia la porción de la matriz de los folículos pilosos. Es la neoplasia cutánea benigna más frecuente en la infancia y la juventud, aunque puede ocurrir a cualquier edad. Tiene una incidencia general que oscila entre el 0.001% y el 0.0031% de todos los tumores cutáneos. Se reporta una ligera predilección por el sexo femenino, con una relación mujer: hombre de 1.15:1. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal en el que se utilizó la base de datos electrónica del departamento de dermatopatología del Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, entre enero de 1992 y julio de 2023. Para la búsqueda de los casos solo se incluyeron aquellos con diagnóstico histopatológico de pilomatrixoma, pilomatricoma o epitelioma calcificado de Malherbe. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 200 pilomatrixomas en 177 pacientes. El tumor predominó en mujeres de edad pediátrica; el promedio de edad de la población estudiada fue 22.98 años. La topografía más frecuente fue la cabeza (región periorbitaria), seguida de las extremidades superiores y el tronco. Al separar la población en pediátricos y adultos, se encontraron 111 y 89 casos, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Presentamos un estudio detallado sobre pilomatrixomas con una visión exhaustiva de las características demográficas, clínicas y epidemiológicas de esta neoplasia cutánea benigna. Los resultados revelaron datos estadísticos sólidos, destacando la distribución por edades, sexo, topografía, morfología, síntomas acompañantes y frecuencia de diagnósticos diferenciales clínicos. Este estudio contribuye significativamente al conocimiento existente sobre los pilomatrixomas y sirve como una referencia valiosa para futuras investigaciones y para la práctica clínica.

The dynamic relationships between well-being, behavioral restrictions, and health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large-scale intensive longitudinal network study.

The behavioral restrictions disrupting daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic have profoundly impacted well-being, and health behaviors have been advocated to prevent decline. To understand how processes related to fluctuation in well-being unfold within individuals, analyses on the within-person level are required. In this preregistered intensive longitudinal study, 1,709 individuals from the Norwegian adult population provided data daily over 40 consecutive days during the pandemic. The responses were modeled in a multilevel vector autoregressive model to estimate within-person networks, across and within-day, and a between-person network. All three networks revealed productivity, relatedness, and optimism as positively associated. Social distancing was contemporaneously negatively associated with productivity and relatedness. Among behavioral factors, being physically active predicted lower relatedness across days but displayed positive associations with relatedness, productivity, and optimism contemporaneously. Alcohol consumption predicted lower productivity across and within-day, although revealing a positive association with optimism within-day. Being social online and feeling related to others displayed a temporal negative bidirectional relationship. In contrast, being social online was positively associated with optimism, productivity, and relatedness contemporaneously. Our study emphasizes the dynamic nature of well-being and its complex associations with behavioral factors during the pandemic. The study shed light on opposing associations of behavioral factors at the within- and between-person level.

The sense of coherence scale: psychometric properties in a representative sample of the Czech adult population.

BACKGROUND: Sense of coherence (SOC) is a personal resource that reflects the extent to which one perceives the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. Decades of empirical research consistently show that SOC is an important protective resource for health and well-being. Despite the extensive use of the 13-item measure of SOC, there remains uncertainty regarding its factorial structure. Additionally, a valid and reliable Czech version of the scale is lacking. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the SOC-13 scale in a representative sample of Czech adults. METHODS: An online survey was completed by 498 Czech adults (18-86 years old) between November 2021 and December 2021. We used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factorial structure of the scale. Further, we examined the variations in SOC based on age and gender, and we tested the criterion validity of the scale using the short form of the Mental Health Continuum (MHC) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale as mental health outcomes. RESULTS: SOC-13 showed an acceptable one- and three-factor fit only with specified residual covariance between items 2 and 3. We tested alternative short versions by systematically removing poorly performing items. The fit significantly improved for all shorter versions with SOC-9 having the best psychometric properties with a clear one-factorialstructure. We found that SOC increases with age and males score higher than females. SOC showed a moderately strong positive correlation with MHC, and a moderately strong negative correlation with GAD. These findings were similar for all tested versions supporting the criterion validity of the SOC scale. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that shortened versions of the SOC-13 scale have better psychometric properties than the original 13-item version in the Czech adult population. Particularly, SOC-9 emerges as a viable alternative, showing comparable reliability and validity as the 13-item version and a clear one-factorial structure in our sample.

Patterns of Statin Therapy Use and Associated Outcomes in Older Veterans Across Kidney Function.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant morbidity and mortality related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, to date, most major clinical trials studying the effects of statin therapy have excluded older adults. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of initiating statin therapy on incident dementia and mortality among individuals 75 years of age or older across the complete spectrum of kidney function. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 640,191 VA health system patients who turned 75 years of age between 2000 and 2018. Patients on statin therapy received the medication for an average of 6.3 years (standard deviation 4.6 years). The primary outcome of interest included incident dementia diagnosis during the study period. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to evaluate the adjusted association of statin initiation with these outcomes. RESULTS: There was a higher rate of incident dementia in the No Statin group (4.7%) vs the Statin group (3.2%). Additionally, we observed a 22% all-cause mortality benefit associated with statin therapy. We did not observe a treatment effect with respect to primary or secondary outcomes across varying levels of kidney function. CONCLUSION: This large cohort study did not reveal an association between the initiation of statin therapy and incident dementia. A survival benefit was seen in statin users compared with nonusers. Prospective studies in more diverse populations including older adults will be needed to verify these findings.

Inter-night variability of in-home, overnight pulse oximetry screening in an asymptomatic older adult population.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common, yet often undiagnosed. Self-administered, overnight pulse oximetry (OPO) could screen for OSA in asymptomatic, older populations. However, the inter-night variability of OPO in an asymptomatic, older population is unknown. We determined the inter-night variability of home OPO parameters in an older population and correlated with sleep questionnaires. METHODS: Participants > 50 years without a diagnosis of OSA undertook home OPO for three consecutive nights and completed two sleep questionnaires (STOP-BANG (SBQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)). Analysis was performed with linear mixed models and Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: There was no difference in oxygen desaturation index (ODI), MeanSpO2, MinimumSpO2, and time spent with SpO2 < 90% (T90) across two or three nights (P ≥ 0.282). However, the variability of all parameters across nights increased with the magnitude of departure from normal values (P ≤ 0.002). All OPO parameters were associated with age (P ≤ 0.034) and body mass index (P ≤ 0.049). There was a weak correlation between three OPO parameters and SBQ (absolute ρ = 0.22 to 0.32; P ≤ 0.021), but not ESS (P ≥ 0.254). CONCLUSION: Inter-night variability of home OPO was minimal when values were near-normal in an older population. However, as values depart from normal, the inter-night variability increases, indicating the need for multiple night recordings. Low correlation to sleep questionnaires suggest the need for more robust OSA questionnaires in an asymptomatic population.

Mobile version of the Battery for the Assessment of Auditory Sensorimotor and Timing Abilities (BAASTA): Implementation and adult norms.

Timing and rhythm abilities are complex and multidimensional skills that are highly widespread in the general population. This complexity can be partly captured by the Battery for the Assessment of Auditory Sensorimotor and Timing Abilities (BAASTA). The battery, consisting of four perceptual and five sensorimotor tests (finger-tapping), has been used in healthy adults and in clinical populations (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ADHD, developmental dyslexia, stuttering), and shows sensitivity to individual differences and impairment. However, major limitations for the generalized use of this tool are the lack of reliable and standardized norms and of a version of the battery that can be used outside the lab. To circumvent these caveats, we put forward a new version of BAASTA on a tablet device capable of ensuring lab-equivalent measurements of timing and rhythm abilities. We present normative data obtained with this version of BAASTA from over 100 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 87 years in a test-retest protocol. Moreover, we propose a new composite score to summarize beat-based rhythm capacities, the Beat Tracking Index (BTI), with close to excellent test-retest reliability. BTI derives from two BAASTA tests (beat alignment, paced tapping), and offers a swift and practical way of measuring rhythmic abilities when research imposes strong time constraints. This mobile BAASTA implementation is more inclusive and far-reaching, while opening new possibilities for reliable remote testing of rhythmic abilities by leveraging accessible and cost-efficient technologies.

Retrospective Analysis of Vitamin D Deficiency in an Adult Population of Arad County, Western Romania (2019-2022).

Vitamin D, a steroid hormone synthesized primarily in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet light, is widely deficient across global populations. This study aimed to fill the data gap in Western Romania by measuring 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in a cohort of 7141 from Arad County. It was observed that women, younger adults (18-29 years), and older adults (70-79 years) had notably lower vitamin D levels compared to the average population. Additionally, there was a rise in vitamin D levels over the four-year span of 2018-2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research provides fresh data on those most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency and lays the groundwork for educational campaigns on vitamin D supplementation benefits.

Risk assessment and predictors of the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Spanish adults by urinary human biomonitoring.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced primarily during incomplete combustion of organic matter and in various industrial processes. They are widespread environmental pollutants that are of significant interest due to their potential toxicity. Humans can be exposed to PAHs through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact. In the present study, ten urinary PAH biomarkers were determined in first-morning urine samples (n = 504) from the adult population (aged 18-65 years) residing in the Valencian Region of Spain. These samples were analysed using liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). All PAH biomarkers were quantified in more than 65 % of the urine samples. Naphthalene biomarkers, 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1OHNAP) and 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2OHNAP), exhibited the highest levels with geometric means (GMs) of 0.7 and 11.9 µg L-1, respectively. The 95th percentile of all PAH biomarkers ranged from 0.22 to 64.8 µg L-1. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) for the analysed PAH families in the studied population ranged from 17 (pyrene) to 18581 (naphthalene) ng·kg-bw-1·day-1 (GM). Significant associations were observed between the quantified urinary metabolites of PAHs and smoking status, home location, annual household incomes, BMI, and the consumption of grilled food in the last 24 h. Hazard quotients (HQs) of naphthalene and consequently, hazard indexes (HIs) were above 1, especially for smokers. Therefore, potential health risks associated with PAH exposure in the target population could not be discarded.

Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid hormone levels in the elderly.

This study aimed to measure the exposure of the elderly to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and explore their effects on thyroid hormone levels. A cross-sectional study of plasma samples from 746 elderly people (aged >60 years) from Taiyuan, China was conducted. Fourteen PFASs were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and five thyroid function indicators, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), free T4 (FT4), and free T3 (FT3), using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Descriptive analysis was used to investigate PFC exposure and the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) was used to calculate the transthyretin (TTR)-disrupting toxicity of combined exposure to PFAS. Linear additive and multiple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between PFAS and hormones, using PFC concentration as quartiles and continuous variables. Among the PFAS identified, 12 PFASs had detection rates >80 %, with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) having the highest concentrations. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), PFOS, and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were negatively correlated with TSH levels and each interquartile range (IQR) concentration increase caused a reduction in TSH levels by 2.14 %, 1.78 %, and 3.04 %, respectively. Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrA) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPA) were positively correlated with T4 and T3 levels, respectively, and levels increased by 4.52 % (T4) and 1.14 % (T3) with IQR concentration increase. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was negatively correlated with FT4 levels, which decreased by 1.89 % with IQR concentration increase. A negative correlation was found between the combined exposure indices of TEQ and TSH levels; IQR increase in TEQ decreased the TSH concentration by 1.91 %. In conclusion, exposure to PFAS was common in the elderly population and was associated with decreased TSH and FT4 levels and increased T4 and T3 levels. These results indicated that PFASs may cause thyroid-disrupting effects in the elderly population.

Study on the impact of central environmental protection inspection on the health of the older adult population-A quasi-natural experiment in China.

In 2015, the central government of China established the Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI) system for oversight of local governments. It enhanced local government enforcement of environmental regulations, which had a considerable influence on the health of the local older adult population. This study quantifies the effects of local government regulation brought about by CEPI on the health of the older adult. It examines the impact mechanism using the DID model and panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The results show that (1) local governments' environmental protection regulations implemented by CEPI have a positive impact on the general health of the older adult. The results of the study passed the parallel trend test, PSM test, replacement variable test, and placebo test and remained significant; (2) in terms of the impact mechanism, CEPI has promoted local governments' environmental governance initiatives, which has reduced industrial wastewater emissions, industrial sulfur dioxide emissions, and industrial fumes emissions. This has improved air quality, thereby creating a good living environment for the older adult and improving their overall health; (3) according to heterogeneity research, the health of older adult living in the Yangtze River Basin, urban older adult, and older adult without chronic diseases is more significantly affected by the environmental protection regulations of the local governments brought about by CEPI.

Dietary exposure to acrylamide among the Malaysian adult population.

This study aimed to estimate the Malaysian adult population's current dietary exposure and margin of exposure (MOE) to the carcinogenic processing contaminant, acrylamide. A total of 448 samples from 11 types of processed foods were collected randomly throughout Malaysia in the year 2015 and 2016. Acrylamide was analysed in samples using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 µg/kg and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 25 µg/kg. The highest average level of acrylamide (772 ± 752 µg/kg) was found in potato crisps, followed by French fries (415 ± 914 µg/kg) and biscuits (245 ± 195 µg/kg). The total acrylamide exposure for the adult Malaysian was 0.229 and 1.77 µg/kg body weight per day for average and high consumers, respectively. The MOE were 741 and 1875 for the average consumer based on cancer and non-cancer effects of acrylamide, respectively. Meanwhile, for high consumers, the MOE is 96 for cancer and 243 for non-cancer effects. These findings indicate potential carcinogenic risks from acrylamide exposure among Malaysian adults, especially in Malay and other Bumiputra groups compared to Chinese, Indian, and other ethnic groups, while non-cancer effects appeared less concerning.