Griffithhogan9398

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia worldwide, its clinical diagnosis remains a challenge. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT with angiography (OCTA) are non-invasive ophthalmic imaging tools with the potential to detect retinal structural and microvascular changes in patients with AD, which may serve as biomarkers for the disease. In this systematic review, we evaluate whether certain OCT and OCTA parameters are significantly associated with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

PubMed database was searched using a combination of MeSH terms to identify studies for review. Studies were organized by participant diagnostic groups, type of imaging modality, and OCT/OCTA parameters of interest. Participant demographic data was also collected and baseline descriptive statistics were calculated for the included studies.

Seventy-one studies were included for review, representing a total of 6757 patients (2350 AD, 793 MCI, 2902 healthy controls (HC), and 841 others with a al as non-invasive technologies for the diagnosis of AD. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are AD-specific patterns of structural or microvascular change in the retina and optic nerve that distinguish AD from other neurodegenerative diseases. Development of sensitive and specific OCT/OCTA parameters will be necessary before they can be used to detect AD in clinical settings.

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare genetic condition, characterised by movement disorder, and speech and cognitive functioning impairment. To enable economic evaluation of treatments, health-related quality of life or utilities need to be derived. DNA Repair inhibitor These are currently lacking in the literature. This is challenging, where patient numbers are small, particularly in paediatric populations. This study outlines the 5-stage development of vignettes describing AADC, for use in a subsequent health-state utility elicitation study, with an emphasis on caregiver and clinician engagement.

To align with the economic model, 5 vignettes describing 5 AADC deficiency motor milestones were developed, ranging from "bedridden" to "walking with assistance". Stage 1 comprised identification of symptoms/impairments from the literature and AADC deficiency charity websites. Stage 2 comprised group discussion with 3 caregivers. A symptoms matrix was developed, followed by draft vignettes (Stage 3). Eigh how engagement is sought from caregivers are important future avenues of research.

The differing focus of caregivers, clinicians and the literature reinforces the importance of patient/caregiver engagement. The vignettes need to comprehensively capture what it is like to live with AADC deficiency, in order for the subsequent utilities to be robust. A focus on evidence triangulation, especially for idiopathic conditions, and how engagement is sought from caregivers are important future avenues of research.

To examine the factor structure and differential item functioning (DIF) of the Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-management (PETS version 2.0), a measure of treatment burden.

Version 2.0 of the PETS has 60 items, extending the previously-validated 48-item version 1.0 by three domains (nine items) and three additional items in an existing domain. We conducted confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) on survey responses of 439 community-dwelling adults living with multiple chronic conditions who completed PETS version 2.0, using R packages, "lavaan" and "semTools." We tested fit of second-order factors to explore simplifying the reporting of PETS scores. We examined DIF for the two second-order factors with "lordif" R package, testing groups by gender, education, and health literacy, using the McFadden pseudo



change criterion of ≥0.02 to flag items with DIF. Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to determine the reliability of PETS domains.

The first-order CF.0. The fit of a factor model featuring superordinate (ie, second-order) factors of workload and impact supports index scoring that will simplify reporting of PETS scores. DIF analyses indicate that items from these indices can be interpreted in the same way, regardless of gender, education, or health literacy.

Although previous studies have identified reasons why youth try e-cigarettes, longitudinal research is needed to identify predictors of e-cigarette initiation. This study assesses predictors of e-cigarette initiation among youth and young adults in the 2018-2019 Youth and Young Adult Panel Study.

This study examined the proportion of Canadian participants aged 16 to 25 (n = 137) reporting never use of e-cigarettes at baseline in 2018. Individuals were categorized as not initiated and initiated at 12-month follow-up. We examined demographic characteristics, substance use, health status, social influences and perception by initiation category. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated using logistic regression models and multivariable logistic regression model.

Among the 137 never e-cigarette users at baseline, 59% remained never users while 41% initiated use of e-cigarettes during the 12-month follow-up. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that regularly seeing anyone use e-cigarettes (AOR 4.11; 95% CI 1.04, 16.31) and seeing anyone use e-cigarettes very often or always at baseline (AOR 4.54; 95% CI 1.21, 17.01) is associated with initiating e-cigarette use among youth and young adults.

The results revealed social influences to be the most important predictors of initiation among youth and young adults. Interventions to prevent youth and young adults from initiating e-cigarette use should expand from only focusing on peer use to reducing use in public space such as parks and recreational facilities.

The results revealed social influences to be the most important predictors of initiation among youth and young adults. Interventions to prevent youth and young adults from initiating e-cigarette use should expand from only focusing on peer use to reducing use in public space such as parks and recreational facilities.