American journal of preventive medicine
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Muscle strength preservation may play an important role in protecting against cardiometabolic diseases, functional decline, musculoskeletal deterioration, and early all-cause mortality. However, sex-specific strength growth charts and curves using data from a U.S.-representative sample and clinically feasible measurement remain to be established. ⋯ The established strength quantiles can easily be incorporated into a clinical setting for screening individuals that would benefit from lifestyle interventions to improve muscular fitness and reduce health risks.
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Quitting smoking at any age confers health benefits. However, studies have suggested that quitting by age 35 years leads to mortality rates similar to never smokers. This study assessed whether the mean and median ages of past-year quitting and prevalence of past-year quit attempts and successful quitting by age group changed over time. ⋯ Although the average age of quitting did not change over time, increases in past-year quit attempts and successful quitting occurred among adults aged 25-44 years. Proven population-level interventions--including price increases, mass media campaigns, comprehensive smoke-free policies, and health systems interventions--should be continued to further increase cessation, particularly among younger adults.
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Use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines among children in the U. S. since 2000 has dramatically reduced pneumococcal disease burden among adults. Significant vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal infections still remains, especially among older adults. ⋯ These recommendations were based on the remaining burden of illness among adults and the importance of non-bacteremic pneumonia prevention in light of new evidence confirming the efficacy of PCV13 to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia among older adults. This paper reviews the evidence that led ACIP to make recommendations for PCV13 and PPSV23 use among adults, and highlights potential gaps to be addressed by future studies to inform adult vaccination policy. The changing epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia should be closely monitored to evaluate the effectiveness and continued utility of the current vaccination strategy, and to identify future directions for pneumococcal disease prevention among older adults.
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Review Meta Analysis
Hot Food and Beverage Consumption and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.
Esophageal cancer is a neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Its two histologic subtypes, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), have been associated with different risk factors. The possibility of an association between the consumption of hot food and beverages and esophageal cancer, especially ESCC, has long been suspected, presenting a potentially modifiable risk factor. A meta-analysis of existing observational studies was performed to provide a quantitative estimate of the risk of esophageal cancer associated with the consumption of hot food and drink. ⋯ The consumption of hot food and beverages was associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, particularly ESCC.
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Review
A Systematic Review of the Impact of Juvenile Curfew Laws on Public Health and Justice Outcomes.
Automobile crashes cause more than 800,000 youth injuries and deaths each year. Other youth suffer the consequences from being either a perpetrator or victim of a crime. One type of law that has an effect on youth behavior is juvenile curfew laws. These laws restrict the times that youth may occupy public places or streets. We systematically reviewed studies evaluating the effectiveness of these laws to address the question: Can juvenile curfew laws be used to improve youth public health and juvenile justice outcomes? ⋯ The studies that found that juvenile curfew laws were effective at reducing adverse youth health outcomes (e.g., trauma transports); juvenile crime; and victimization were of higher quality (e.g., stronger methodologic approaches) than those finding no effects. However, given the limited number of studies and concerns with quality, we conclude that more research is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of juvenile curfew laws.