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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Assessing the Feasibility of Using the Ketogenic Diet in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Evidence demonstrating efficacy of dietary interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains inconsistent. Recent research on the ketogenic diet (KD) for the treatment of ASD has suggested benefit. Children with ASD often demonstrate ritualized food specific behaviors, taste and texture aversions, and an increased prevalence of food restrictions and allergies. There is a need to investigate how these features contribute to initiation and adherence of the KD.

Two surveys were administered to assess the feasibility of utilizing the KD for ASD. First, paper surveys were given to caregivers of children presenting to outpatient neurology clinics. Next, experienced clinicians were recruited and surveyed online using Redcap. χ2 analysis was used to compare ASD and non ASD caregiver responses. Descriptive metrics were used to present clinician responses. Responses to each question were evaluated individually.

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Mapping schistosomiasis risk in Southeast Asia: a systematic review and geospatial analysis

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Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a water-borne parasitic disease estimated to have infected >140 million people globally in 2019, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Within the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030 in the World Health Organization (WHO) Roadmap for neglected tropical diseases, other regions cannot be neglected. Empirical estimates of the disease burden in Southeast Asia largely remain unavailable.
Methods
We undertook a systematic review to identify empirical survey data on schistosomiasis prevalence in Southeast Asia using the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed and the Global Atlas of Helminth Infections, from inception to 5 February 2021. We then conducted advanced Bayesian geostatistical analysis to assess the geographical distribution of infection risk at a high spatial resolution (5 × 5 km) using the prevalence, number of infected individuals and doses needed for preventi ve chemotherapy.
Results
We identified 494 Schistosoma japonicum surveys in the Philippines and Indonesia, and 285 in Cambodia and Laos for S. mekongi. The latest estimates suggest that 225 [95% credible interval (CrI): 168–285] thousand in the endemic areas of Southeast Asian population were infected in 2018. The highest prevalence of schistosomiasis was 3.86% (95% CrI: 3.40–4.31) in Laos whereas the lowest was 0.29% in Cambodia (95% CrI: 0.22–0.36). The estimated number of praziquantel doses needed per year was 1.99 million (95% CrI: 1.92–2.03 million) for the entire population in endemic areas of Southeast Asia.
Conclusions
The burden of schistosomiasis remains far from the WHO goal and our estimates highlighted areas to target with strengthened interventions against schistosomiasis.
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Asymptomatic Patients and Rising Incidence of Thyroid Cancer

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To the Editor The overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer has been a global public health problem. We read the recent study by Sajisevi et al in which the authors retrospectively analyzed data from 1328 patients who underwent thyroid-directed surgery and suggested limiting overtreatment of asymptomatic thyroid cancer. Herein, we raise several concerns.
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Optimizing the Assessment of Olfactory Dysfunction

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In this issue of JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, Lee et al report their development and validation of a novel patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of smell loss–related quality of life, the 28-item Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating (ODOR). ODOR represents a visually appealing, straightforward, concise, and patient-centered instrument to assess the physical problems, functional limitations, and emotional consequences of olfactory dysfunction.
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Tonsillectomy vs Modified Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for Hypertrophy and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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This randomized clinical trial examines whether modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is more effective than tonsillectomy alone for treating adults with tonsillar hypertrophy and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
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Development of the Taste And Smell Tool for Evaluation

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This survey study develops and validates an instrument wit h all relevant domains concerning chemosensory dysfunction and quality of life using modern psychometrics.
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American Thyroid Association Guidelines and Management of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

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This cohort study determines how the 2009 and 2015 Americ an Thyroid Association guidelines may have corresponded with trends in the management of patients with low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma.
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Berichtetes und gemessenes Riech- und Schmeckvermögen in einer Long-COVID-Kohorte

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Laryngorhinootologie
DOI: 10.1055/a-1970-6510

Einleitung Störungen des Riech- und Schmecksinns werden häufig zahlenmäßig übereinstimmend als Long-COVID-Symptom beklagt. Anhand von Befunden einer Spezialsprechstunde (HNO-LCS) soll geklärt werden, wie groß tatsächlich der Anteil pathologischer olfaktorischer bzw. gustatorischer Diagnosen in dieser Kohorte ist. Methodik 48 erwachsene Patienten, die die HNO-LCS aus eigenem Leidensdruck aufsuchten, wurden nach ihrer Anamnese befragt, sie schätzten ihr Riech- (SER) und Schmeckvermögen (SES) mit Schulnoten ein und absolvierten als Riechtest den erweiterten Sniffin'Sticks-Test und als Schmecktest den 3-Tropfen-Test. Aus dem SDI-Riechscore und dem totalen Schmeckscore (SScore-total) wurden anhand von Normwerten Diagnosen erstellt. Zwischen den gemessenen Scores und der Selbsteinschätzung und zwischen SER und SES wurden Korrelationen berechnet. Ergebnisse Tatsächliche pathologische chemosensorische Diagnosen bestanden bei 90% der Patienten. Pathologische olfaktorische Diagnosen waren doppelt so häufig wie gustatorische. Bei 10% der Kohorte war keine pathologische Diagnose verifizierbar. Bei 6 Patienten wurde ein Anosmie-Ageusie-Syndrom diagnostiziert. SER korrelierte stark mit SDI. SES korrelierte moderat mit SScore-total. SER korrelierte stark mit SES. Schlussfolgerungen Bei der Interpretation berichteter chemosensorischer Symptome besteht die Gefahr einer Konfusion von Riechen und Schmecken durch die Betroffenen. Deshalb ist die Überprüfung der chemischen Sinne mit validierten Tests in Long-COVID-Ambulanzen wichtig.
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