SAGE Open Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Secreted phosphoprotein 1 is associated with epithelial cell proliferation and PI3K/AKT signalling in sinonasal inverted papilloma.","authors":"Wenrui Tang, Lin Wang, Xudong Yan, Jisheng Zhang, Longgang Yu, Han Chen, Chunge Zheng, Zihui Dong, Qianyou Zheng, Lin Han, Yan Jiang","doi":"10.1177/20503121261445213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261445213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Sinonasal inverted papilloma is a locally aggressive epithelial lesion with a relatively high recurrence rate, yet the molecular basis of its proliferative behaviour remains incompletely understood. This study investigated the clinical relevance of secreted phosphoprotein 1 in sinonasal inverted papilloma and its association with epithelial cell proliferation and related signalling pathways.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Differentially expressed genes were identified from the GSE193016 dataset, followed by gene set enrichment analysis. The expression of secreted phosphoprotein 1 and the cell cycle-related molecules cell division cycle 25C and cyclin A2 in clinical specimens was assessed using quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Associations between secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression and postoperative recurrence were assessed based on follow-up data. In vitro experiments using human nasal epithelial cells were conducted to examine the effects of altered secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression on cell proliferation-associated phenotypes, and pathway inhibition assays were performed to investigate the involvement of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression was significantly upregulated in sinonasal inverted papilloma tissues, with higher levels observed in advanced-stage cases (T3-T4), and was associated with postoperative recurrence. The expression of the cell cycle-related molecules cell division cycle 25C and cyclin A2, positively correlated with secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression and increased with disease progression. In vitro epithelial cell models demonstrated that modulation of secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression was accompanied by corresponding changes in cellular proliferative capacity and cell cycle-related protein expression. Pathway inhibition assays further suggested that PI3K/AKT signalling may be involved in secreted phosphoprotein 1-associated alterations in cell cycle regulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicate that secreted phosphoprotein 1 is highly expressed in sinonasal inverted papilloma and may be associated with epithelial cell proliferation and PI3K/AKT signalling. In addition, secreted phosphoprotein 1 expression correlates with disease recurrence, highlighting its potential research value as a biological marker, while the underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261445213"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13145016/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147842301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of lifestyle and demographic variables with hepatitis risk: Evidence from machine learning and cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yuhang Tang, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1177/20503121261442016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261442016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis remains a major global health concern, leading to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early identification of individuals at high risk is crucial for prevention and management.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to investigate the clinical or lifestyle variables for early detection of hepatitis risk individuals by integrated machine learning and cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 27,387 participants from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey, randomly divided into training (<i>n</i> = 16,431) and validation (<i>n</i> = 10,956) cohorts. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to identify candidate predictors, followed by univariate and multivariable logistic regression to determine independent predictors. A nomogram was developed and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Besides, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and precision-recall analysis were conducted for evaluation of model efficacy and accuracy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five independent predictors were identified, including age, sex, hypertension, smoking status, and economic status of which associated with hepatitis prevalence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is a cross-sectional, machine learning-based predictive modeling study that aims to identify key demographic and lifestyle factors associated with hepatitis risk and develop a clinically applicable risk prediction tool. Novelty, this study illustrated the association between hepatitis risk and various epidemiologic patterns, including demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors, which facilitate the precision early-detection of hepatitis risk individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261442016"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13129336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological characteristics and changing patterns of hospitalizations among middle-aged and elderly patients in Northwest China, 2020-2024: A retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Shaomin Quan, Shuo Li, Shiying Li, Yue Li, Zhigang Fan","doi":"10.1177/20503121261446494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261446494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe hospitalization patterns, major disease spectra, and clinical outcomes among middle-aged and elderly inpatients in Northwest China between 2020 and 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records from a tertiary hospital. A total of 108,027 admissions were reviewed, and 91,470 were included after excluding cases coded as Z51 (other medical care). Demographic features, length of stay, major diagnoses, and in-hospital mortality were summarized. Annual differences and temporal trends were assessed using appropriate statistical tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hospitalizations increased from 16,407 in 2020 to 27,393 in 2024. Patients aged ≥65 years accounted for roughly three-quarters of admissions, with those aged 65-74 years forming the largest subgroup (46.6%). The overall in-hospital mortality was 1.29%, which scaled significantly with age and peaked at 1.77% in 2023 alongside a surge in respiratory admissions. While males consistently accounted for ∼55% of admissions, they exhibited a higher mortality rate than females (1.22% vs. 0.88%) and dominated specific admissions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (70.3% male). The median length of stay declined from 9 to 7 days. Chronic non-communicable diseases dominated the inpatient spectrum, with senile cataract, cerebral infarction, angina pectoris, and COPD being the most frequent diagnoses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Non-communicable diseases and age-related conditions remain the primary drivers of hospitalization, but their patterns are highly dynamic. The escalating mortality in the oldest-old and marked post-pandemic respiratory surges highlight the critical role of underlying frailty. Alongside improvements in heart failure management, healthcare systems must prioritize targeted primary prevention, aggressive multimorbidity management, and robust long-term care to address these shifting vulnerabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261446494"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13129271/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the turnaround time and the associated factors in computed tomography at the Palestinian hospitals.","authors":"Sondos Rabay'a, Ahmad Abu Arrah, Maha Rabayaa","doi":"10.1177/20503121261446402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261446402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The rising demand for computed tomography (CT) has put pressure on radiology departments to optimize workflows and turnaround times (TATs). TATs in CT encompass the entire process from order to report finalization. Optimizing the TAT is essential to improving patient satisfaction and workflow. This study aimed to evaluate the TAT of CT scans and the influencing factors at Palestinian hospitals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional retrospective study on 8,220 CT scan orders from three Palestinian hospitals was conducted. Data from CT scans, completed from 01/07/2023 to 31/12/2023, were collected from the medical records stored in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The collected data included times of CT scan order, acceptance, and final report, order status, encounter type, the ordering day and time, and whether CT scans were with or without contrast media. Then, the order-to-accept TAT, the accept-to-result TAT, and the order-to-result TAT were calculated in minutes. Nonparametric statistical analyses were employed to identify associations between TATs and encounter type, scan day, working shift, and contrast media utilization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median TATs from order to acceptance, from order to result, and from acceptance to result were 78, 837, and 462 minutes, respectively. TATs varied significantly depending on working shifts, the day of the week, encounter type, and the use of contrast media. The order-to-accept TAT was higher for inpatient CT scans, CT scans ordered on C shifts, and those with contrast media. The accept-to-result TAT was higher for outpatient CT scans, CT scans ordered on B shift compared to A shift, CT scans ordered on weekends, and those with contrast media. The order-to-result TAT was higher for outpatient compared to emergency CT scans, CT scans ordered on C shift, CT scans ordered on weekends, and CT scans with contrast media.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CT scan TATs constitute essential indicators of operational efficiency in radiology departments. Several factors significantly influence these metrics, including the order day, the working shift, the request source, and the administration of contrast agents. To improve CT scan throughputs, targeted strategies must be implemented to optimize workforce allocation, streamline intra-departmental workflows, and mitigate patient-related delays. Such evidence-informed interventions hold promise for advancing both diagnostic efficiency and the overall quality of radiological services.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261446402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125799/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors and in-hospital outcomes of acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy after left ventricular assist device implantation.","authors":"Qiuju Ding, Qingqing Zhu, Cheng Chen, Zhenjun Xu, Jun Pan, Min Ge","doi":"10.1177/20503121261447165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261447165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to summarize the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, and to determine the incidence, clinical implications, and in-hospital risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients who underwent LVAD implantation from October 2022 to July 2025 were included in this retrospective analysis. Data collection included preoperative and intraoperative baseline characteristics, in-hospital complications, and coronary intensive care unit and total hospital stays. AKI was defined according to the KDIGO criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify independent risk factors for CRRT. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the impact and predictive efficacy of significant variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 27 patients (median age: 61 years; male: 88.9%), 24 (88.9%) developed AKI and 5 required CRRT postoperatively. Based on CRRT requirement, patients were stratified into two groups: CRRT (n=5) and non-CRRT (n=22). Univariate analysis associated CRRT occurrence to cystatin C levels, duration of vasoactive drug use, ventricular arrhythmias, and fluid balance on the second postoperative day; the duration of vasoactive drug use was revealed as an independent risk factor. The vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) strongly predicted CRRT occurrence when VIS exceeded 54.5.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found a high incidence of AKI requiring CRRT in patients receiving LVAD implantation. VIS and duration of vasoactive drug use were significant factors linked to CRRT, suggesting the potential of vasoactive drug usage as a predictive indicator for CRRT and further validation through larger-scale studies is still required.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261447165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality of nursing documentation and clinical reasoning competence: The mediating role of interprofessional collaboration.","authors":"Trang Thi Thuy Ho, Binh Duy Ho","doi":"10.1177/20503121261446747","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261446747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>High quality nursing documentation and clinical reasoning competence are essential for safe and effective nursing practice, and interprofessional collaboration represents a key care process. This study examined the relationships among nurses' quality of nursing documentation, interprofessional collaboration, and clinical reasoning competence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational, quantitative study was conducted among nurses working in multiple hospitals in Hue, Vietnam. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected from March to July 2025 using online and paper-based questionnaires. The Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale, Interprofessional Collaboration Scale, and the Student Survey on Writing Nursing Care Plans were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 239 nurses were included in the final analysis. Correlation analysis showed that the quality of nursing documentation was positively associated with interprofessional collaboration (p < 0.001) and clinical reasoning competence (p < 0.001), and interprofessional collaboration was positively correlated with clinical reasoning competence (p < 0.001). Interprofessional collaboration significantly mediated the relationship between quality of nursing documentation and clinical reasoning competence (indirect effect β = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.04]), accounting for 11.5% of the total effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Interprofessional collaboration partially mediated the relationship between quality of nursing documentation and clinical reasoning competence, indicating that high-quality documentation enhances clinical reasoning both directly and indirectly through improved collaborative practice. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening documentation practices and interprofessional collaboration to support nurses' clinical reasoning competence.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261446747"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125841/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and attitude of mother towards home management of febrile seizure in children: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nouraldun M Alhsenat, Huda Gharaibeh, Maha Atout, Fatimah S Tarawneh","doi":"10.1177/20503121261438377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261438377","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Typically, mothers are the primary caregivers for their children; therefore, their knowledge and attitude towards febrile seizures impact the management of this condition in the home environment.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study is designed to explore mothers' knowledge, attitudes towards managing febrile seizures at home, and the correlation between socio-demographic variables and knowledge and attitudes towards managing febrile seizures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This research adopted a cross-sectional design consisting of a convenience sample of 84 mothers who had attended a paediatric clinic or accompanied their child during hospitalisation at two public hospitals in northern Jordan between August 2021 and December 2021. The data employed by this study were gathered via a valid structured questionnaire that was adapted from the work of Elbilgahy and Abd El Aziz.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study revealed that 63.6% of participants possessed a good knowledge of the condition, and that 63.1% of participants exhibited positive attitudes towards febrile seizure management. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the knowledge and attitude scores (<i>r</i> = 0.274, <i>p</i> = 0.012) of mothers regarding the management of febrile seizures in children. Furthermore, the findings of this study indicate that the educational level of mothers was only an associated factor of knowledge (<i>B</i> = -0.821, <i>p</i> = 0.034).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mothers demonstrated generally good knowledge and positive attitudes towards febrile seizure management; however, important misconceptions persist. Targeted educational interventions by healthcare professionals are needed to improve safe home management and support parental confidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261438377"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cultural birth preparedness practices and associated factors among mothers in rural areas of Central Ethiopia: A concurrent mixed-methods design.","authors":"Seid Jemal Mohammed, Aberash Beyene Derribow, Mebratu Demissie, Keyredin Nuriye Metebo, Aynalem Belay, Mangistu Abera","doi":"10.1177/20503121261440627","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261440627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evidence indicates that birth preparedness and complication readiness practice remain a significant problem and is not well practiced in many low-income countries, including those in East Africa. Although birth preparedness and complication readiness is practiced at low levels in most developing settings, existing literature suggests that cultural birth preparedness practices in Central Ethiopia remain underexplored, with limited empirical evidence documenting their nature and influence on maternal health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cultural birth preparedness practices and associated factors in Central Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study with a mixed approach was conducted from February 15 to March 16, 2023. A total of 634 mothers who gave birth within the last 6 weeks were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected via pretested questionnaires and analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Variables with a <i>p</i> < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. For the qualitative data, five focus group discussions and 35 in-depth interviews were conducted to explore community cultural birth preparedness practices. Both inductive and deductive thematic analysis were employed in analyzing the qualitative data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 627 rural mothers from Gurage Zone were enrolled, with a response rate of 98.9%. The overall cultural birth preparedness was 84.2% (95% confidence interval: 79.8-89.3). A family size of five or more (adjusted odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.81-8.63), a birth interval of 2 or more years (adjusted odds ratio = 3.06; 95% confidence interval: 2.21-9.37), and multiparous (adjusted odds ratio = 2.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.06-10.75) were factors associated with cultural birth preparedness practices. In qualitative findings, material birth preparation, peer support group (networks), financial preparedness, engagement with traditional birth attendants, and spiritual practices were factors influencing the cultural birth preparedness practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, 84.2% of mothers practiced cultural birth preparedness. Family size, birth interval, and multiparity were associated with cultural birth preparedness practices. In addition, material, financial, peer, and spiritual supports further influenced these practices. These findings indicated that incorporating culturally acceptable birth-preparedness components into maternal health programs can strengthen community engagement, improve birth readiness, and reduce maternal complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261440627"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Positivity rate of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus^® test among candidates for biotherapy and factors influencing results.","authors":"Hanane Mezenner, Hiba Ait Hamoudi, Soumia Naamoune, Meriem Abbadi, Meriem Khedimallah, Kafia Belhocine, Samira Zobiri, Yanis Meddour, Samia Taright, Sofiane Samir Salah","doi":"10.1177/20503121261440443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261440443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Latent tuberculosis infection, an infection caused by <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>, affects one-quarter of the world's population. The World Health Organization recommends screening for latent tuberculosis infection in at-risk populations to reduce morbidity and mortality risks associated with tuberculosis using the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays, including the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus^® test (QTF-Plus^® test).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to assess the place of QTF-Plus test in latent tuberculosis infection screening among a high-risk population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 969 biotherapy candidates were included in the study (52.63% female and 47.36% male; sex ratio = 0.9).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age was 38.29 ± 15.83 years. The frequency of latent tuberculosis infection, according to QTF-Plus test results, was 20.22%. Factors such as age and history of tuberculosis were significantly associated with QTF-Plus test results (<i>p</i> = 0.002 and <i>p</i> < 0.0001, respectively). QTF-Plus test and tuberculin skin test were performed simultaneously on 632 patients. A weak agreement between these tests was found (77.50%, Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.13). However, a good correlation between TB antigen tube 1 and TB antigen tube 2 (<i>r</i> = 0.72, <i>p</i> < 0.0001; 95% CI: 0.68-0.74) was observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings demonstrate that the QTF-Plus test is useful for latent tuberculosis infection screening in a highly vaccinated population with an intermediate prevalence of tuberculosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261440443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pertussis outbreak investigation, associated risk factors, and evaluation of intervention effectiveness in Sayient Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A case-control study.","authors":"Taddie Wondmnew Kassie, Workye Tsehyu Bayu, Biset Asrade Mekonnen","doi":"10.1177/20503121261437154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121261437154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pertussis remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries despite the availability of effective vaccines. In Ethiopia, recurrent outbreaks continue to occur, particularly in hard-to-reach rural settings.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate a pertussis outbreak, identify associated risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented interventions in Sayient Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational, community-based, unmatched case-control study with a house-to-house approach was conducted from October 25, 2018, to January 22, 2019. A total of 50 cases and 100 controls were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested World Health Organization-adopted questionnaire. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi Info™ (version 7.2.1.0) and exported to SPSS (version 23) for analysis. Variables with a <i>p</i> < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval were considered independent risk factors for pertussis infection in multivariable logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall attack rate was 3.1/1000 population. The age of the affected individuals ranged from 3 months to 28 years, with a median age of 10 years (Interquartile Range (IQR): 0.7-12). Females accounted for 56.6% of the reported cases. Following the implementation of cephalexin therapy and active case search, a substantial decline in incident cases was observed. Independent risk factors for pertussis infection were inadequate awareness on transmission mode (adjusted odds ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-9.54), inadequate prevention and control measures (adjusted odds ratio = 4.64, 95% confidence interval: 2.19-9.83), household contact with a confirmed case (adjusted odds ratio = 6.99, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-41.15), being unvaccinated (adjusted odds ratio = 3.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.97-5.50), and unknown vaccination status (adjusted odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.96-16.08).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A substantial pertussis outbreak occurred in Sayient Woreda, predominantly affecting children and adolescents. Inadequate community awareness, close household contact, and incomplete or unknown vaccination status significantly contributed to transmission. Strengthening routine immunization and enhancing community awareness are important for preventing future outbreaks.</p>","PeriodicalId":21398,"journal":{"name":"SAGE Open Medicine","volume":"14 ","pages":"20503121261437154"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13100374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}