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BACKGROUND: Lifestyle behaviors including exercise, sleep, diet, stress, mental stimulation, and social interaction significantly impact the likelihood of developing dementia. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been valuable tools in addressing these lifestyle behaviors for general health and well-being, and there is growing recognition of their potential use for brain health and dementia prevention. Effective apps must be evidence-based and safeguard user data, addressing gaps in the current state of dementia-related mHealth apps. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the scope of available apps for dementia prevention and risk factors, highlighting gaps and suggesting a path forward for future development. METHODS: A systematic search of mobile app stores, peer-reviewed literature, dementia and Alzheimer association websites, and browser searches was conducted from October 19, 2022, to November 2, 2022. A total of 1044 mHealth apps were retrieved. After screening, 152 apps met the inclusion criteria and were coded by paired, independent reviewers using an extraction framework. The framework was adapted from the Silberg scale, other scoping reviews of mHealth apps for similar populations, and background research on modifiable dementia risk factors. Coded elements included evidence-based and expert credibility, app features, lifestyle elements of focus, and privacy and security. RESULTS: Of the 152 apps that met the final selection criteria, 88 (57.9%) addressed modifiable lifestyle behaviors associated with reducing dementia risk. However, many of these apps (59/152, 38.8%) only addressed one lifestyle behavior, with mental stimulation being the most frequently addressed. More than half (84/152, 55.2%) scored 2 points out of 9 on the Silberg scale, with a mean score of 2.4 (SD 1.0) points. Most of the 152 apps did not disclose essential information: 120 (78.9%) did not disclose expert consultation, 125 (82.2%) did not disclose evidence-based information, 146 (96.1%) did not disclose author credentials, and 134 (88.2%) did not disclose their information sources. In addition, 105 (69.2%) apps did not disclose adherence to data privacy and security practices. CONCLUSIONS: There is an opportunity for mHealth apps to support individuals in engaging in behaviors linked to reducing dementia risk. While there is a market for these products, there is a lack of dementia-related apps focused on multiple lifestyle behaviors. Gaps in the rigor of app development regarding evidence base, credibility, and adherence to data privacy and security standards must be addressed. Following established and validated guidelines will be necessary for dementia-related apps to be effective and advance successfully.

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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06300.].

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INTRODUCTION: There are limited published data regarding the recent incidence trends of cancer in Iraqi Kurdistan. METHODS: The present study assessed the epidemiological estimates of cancer incidence, as well providing a projection of future cancer trends in the upcoming decade by analysing the population-based cancer registry between 2013 and 2019, in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. A retrospective analysis was performed on data retrieved from the Medical Statistics Department at the Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). RESULTS: The total number of female cancer patients was higher in both governorates, and the total incidence of patients with cancer increased by over 2x between 2013 and 2019 in Erbil and Duhok, from 73 to 174 patients/100,000 individuals for women, and 36 to 85 patients/100,000 individuals for men. Analysis indicated that the percentage of patients with cancer is projected to increase by >2x in the current decade, from 3,457 cases to 4,547 and 4,449 cases in the Erbil governorate; and from 1,365 to 2,633 and 2,737 cases in 2028 based on LSTM and bi-LTSM analysis in the Duhok governorate. Lung cancer (LC) and female breast cancer (BC) were the most prominent types of cancers diagnosed since 2013 in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. CONCLUSION: The striking pattern of trends for both present and future cancer incidence rates require urgent solutions and comprehensive efforts to control risk factors that promote the increasing incidence of cancer in these two KRG governorates.
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INTRODUCTION: In December 2019, a novel corona virus disease was identified and was responsible for the new cases of respiratory tract infections in Wuhan, China. This virus was responsible for the pandemic with more than 84 million cases and 1.82 million deaths worldwide. In Sudan till now the reported cases exceed 23,000 with 1.400 deaths. This study aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 suspected cases, health seeking behavior and public adherence to protective measures. METHODS: Descriptive community based cross-sectional study using nonprobability snowball sampling technique, conducted in Khartoum state 2020. 3499 respondents with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds were finally enrolled in the study. Data was collected through Manitoba Coronavirus 2019 screening form which distributed through online anonymous Google forms. Data was entered and analyzed by Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 23. RESULTS: The study revealed that 26.5% of the respondents were clinically suspected with headache or fatigability being the most common symptom followed by pharyngitis and then dry cough. Asthma and chronic respiratory disease as the commonest comorbidities. Wearing facial masks and regular hand washing were found to be the most used protective measures with only 39.4% implicates social distancing in their daily life. Health seeking behavior was significantly different among suspected respondents the majority tend to use antibiotics than to isolate themselves or undergo testing. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 suspected cases were prevalent among Sudanese population; screening capacity has to be increased with more strong policies for implications of personal protective measures in the daily life.

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Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), many people were facing daily life changes that could predispose them to anxiety. For the Sudanese university students, the situation is even more complicated because of the limited availability of online learning and the difficult economic situation of the country. The objective of this study is to assess the students' anxiety levels. The method we used was a cross-section of the university students in Sudan using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique to assess their anxiety level using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) during the COVID-19 pandemic through an online self-administered questionnaire. Results indicated that of the 478 participants, 75.1% had a low anxiety level, 15.5% had a moderate anxiety level and 9.4% had a potentially concerning level of anxiety. Experiencing no symptoms during the past 14 days was associated with a low level of anxiety. Moreover, experiencing fever, sore throat, and myalgia or fatigue were associated with low to moderate anxiety levels among the participants. While having a relative or a friend diagnosed or suspected with the disease or having headache were associated with a low anxiety level, Thus the conclusion was that not complying with the curfew measures, and the preventive etiquette of covering mouth while coughing or sneezing were associated with potentially concerning levels of anxiety while experiencing fever, sore throat and myalgia were associated with moderate anxiety levels. More research should be conducted to study the psychological influences of pandemics on students in developing countries.

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Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have increasingly been considered potentially valuable tools in dementia-related research and could serve as non-pharmacological therapy to improve quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing for persons with dementia (PwD). In this scoping review, we summarize peer-reviewed articles published up to Jan-21, 2021, on the use of VR to promote wellbeing in PwD. Eighteen manuscripts (reporting on 19 studies) met the inclusion criteria, with a majority published in the past 2 years. Two reviewers independently coded the articles regarding A) intended clinical outcomes and effectiveness of the interventions, B) study sample (characteristics of the participants), C) intervention administration (by whom, what setting), D) experimental methods (design/instruments), and E) technical properties of the VR-systems (hardware/devices and software/content). Emotional outcomes were by far the most common objectives of the interventions, reported in seventeen (89.5%) of the included articles. Outcomes addressing social engagement and personhood in PwD have not been thoroughly explored using VR. Based on the positive impact of VR, future opportunities lie in identifying special features and customization of the hardware/software to afford the most benefit to different sub-groups of the target population. Overall, this review found that VR represents a promising tool for promoting wellbeing in PwD, with positive or neutral impact reported on emotional, social, and functional aspects of wellbeing.

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Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition to affecting mainly the respiratory tract, there have been many reported cutaneous manifestations of the disease. A retrospective case series based on history and clinical findings was performed across six hospitals in the UAE, including two field hospitals. A total of 324 patients with COVID-19 were identified and divided into three groups based on the severity of the disease. Forty-five (12.5%) patients had clearly identifiable cutaneous manifestation of COVID-19. Two patients each with alopecia areata and sclerosis of the extremities, respectively, were identified in the second group. Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 have been well reported across the literature. The experience in the UAE is similar to that of published reports. The occurrence of other cutaneous manifestations with an underlying autoimmune pathogenesis should raise the possibility of such conditions in those with COVID-19. (SKINmed. 2020;18:218-220).

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Vitamin D deficiency is not only associated with rickets and osteomalacia, but also with several chronic diseases, such as cancer, ischaemic heart disease, and type 1and 2 diabetes mellitus. Worldwide, an estimated one billion people suffer from vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of this problem is unknown in Sudan due to scarcity of research in this particular area of concern. The present study aimed to assess the awareness of vitamin D deficiency through the knowledge of the importance of vitamin D, the link to diseases, vitamin D resources and the importance of dietary supplements, in addition to assessing the sun exposure habits in a sample of female Sudanese medical students. It is a descriptive cross-sectional community-based study, conducted at Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan. More than half (56 %) of the participants were aged 21-25 years and 30% were in the second academic class. The majority of the participants were aware of the importance of vitamin D; however, the awareness of relating it to the chronic diseases was poor. Overall, 61.9% declared that vitamin D supplementation is important, and sun exposure habits were good (64.5% didn't use sunblock and 87.6% get exposed for more than 10 minutes/day). There was significant association between the age categories and exposure to the sun without sunblock on a daily basis (p value = 0.007).

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Breaking bad news is a global challenge for all types of health providers. Our study assessed the attitude and practice from the doctors' perspective in a patriarchal society. A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted, involving doctors from both medical and surgical departments. Almost half of the respondents believed that Sudanese patients do not like to know their diagnosis, and a slightly higher proportion had no previous training on how to break bad news. Some 20% indicated that they would conceal the diagnosis from a patient if his or her relatives so requested. Less than one-quarter of respondents followed a standard protocol. Although most of the doctors subscribed to the notion that patients have the right to know everything about their illnesses, not all of them held this attitude towards their local patient population.

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BACKGROUND: Labor is one of the most painful events in a women's life. Frequent change in positions and back massage may be effective in reducing pain during the first stage of labor. AIM: The focus of this study was to identify the impact of either change in position or back massage on pain perception during first stage of labor. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, November 2014 to October 2015. SUBJECTS: Eighty women were interviewed as a study sample when admitted to the labor and delivery area and divided into three groups: 20 women received frequent changes in position (group A), 20 women received back massage (Group B), and 40 women constituted the control group (group C). METHODS: A structured interview questionnaire to collect background data was completed by the researcher in personal interviews with the mothers. The intervention was performed at three points in each group, and pain perception was measured after each intervention using the Face Pain Scale. RESULTS: The mean rank of the difference in pain scores among the study groups was as follows after the first, second, and third interventions, respectively: group A-52.33, 47.00, 49.2; group B-32.8, 30.28, 30.38; group C-38.44, 42.36, 41.21. There were significant differences between groups A, B, and C after the first, second, and third interventions (p1 = .011, p2 = .042, p3 = .024). CONCLUSIONS: Back massage may be a more effective pain management approach than change in position during the first stage of labor.

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BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is group of disorders characterized by long-term disabilities that affect the quality of life (QoL) of both patients and those caring for them. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the QoL of CP patients and their caregivers and determine the factors affecting both of them. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional facility-based study. 65 caregivers of children with CP aged 4-18 years completed a self-structured questionnaire. Descriptives of the samples were displayed, and logistic regression was used in the analysis. RESULTS: The scores of overall QoL of both children and caregivers were low, however, variations were observed among different domains. Both health-related and sociodemographic factors were found to affect the QoL of children and caregivers. The increase in the degree of disability and presence of complications decreased the children QoL while the availability of health insurance improved it. Whereas the QoL of the caregiver was affected by his/her occupation, the degree of child disability did not affect it. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that many feasible changes can be adopted to improve the QoL of CP patients and their caregivers.

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