Background and objectives: Mental and physical health are influenced by a complex interplay of environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors, yet county-level determinants and their differential effects on these outcomes remain underexplored. Accordingly, this study examines the associations between a comprehensive set of environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors and county-level mental and physical health outcomes in the U.S., with particular attention to differences in their determinants. Materials and Methods: Data from 2145 counties were analyzed, focusing on the percentage of adults experiencing frequent mental distress and frequent physical distress, defined as 14 or more days of poor health per month. Descriptive analyses summarized outcome distributions and their associations with county characteristics, while multivariate ordinary least squares regressions with state-clustered standard errors identified significant predictors across living environment, socioeconomic, and demographic domains. Results: Housing quality, insufficient sleep, and access to healthy food were significantly associated with both mental and physical distress, with mental health particularly sensitive to housing and sleep challenges. Educational attainment and household income were negatively associated with both outcomes, while poverty was positively associated with distress across domains. Demographic factors showed outcome-specific patterns: female population share was associated with both mental and physical health, non-Hispanic white population share was significant only for mental health, rurality only for physical health, and older age was negatively associated for physical but not mental distress. Conclusion: These findings highlight that county-level structural, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics were jointly associated with mental and physical health, with both shared and outcome-specific effects, offering guidance for targeted public health interventions, resource allocation, and policy development. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.009 *Correspondence:Fang Fang, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, U.S.,90032. Email: ffang2@calstatela.edu. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0)
Background and Objective: Acute ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The development of atherosclerotic changes in the extracranial carotid arteries, such as increased intima-media thickness (IMT), atheromatous plaque formation, and stenosis, is a significant contributor to cerebral ischemia. These vascular alterations are crucial in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, as they can lead to embolic events and impaired blood flow to the brain. Colour duplex ultrasonography is a non-invasive, widely accessible, and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting and assessing these carotid artery changes. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the causes and characteristics of carotid stenosis in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the department of Radiology and Imaging at Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2021 to June 2023. A total of 52 patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke, confirmed through clinical and radiological diagnostic tests, were selected using purposive sampling. Colour duplex ultrasound was employed to assess the extracranial carotid arteries of all patients. The study collected data on sociodemographic factors, clinical presentation, vascular risk factors, carotid IMT, plaque characteristics, plaque location, and the severity of carotid stenosis.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The most common presentation was unilateral weakness (88.5%), with other features including dysphonia, unsteadiness, and dysphagia. Hypertension was the most prevalent vascular risk factor (65.4%).The middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory was the most frequently affected vascular region. Carotid IMT was found to be increased in 67.0% of patients, while atheromatous plaques and carotid stenosis were observed in 53.8% and 76.9% of patients, respectively. Most stenoses were mild, with less than 50% stenosis reported in the majority of cases. Carotid plaques were predominantly located at the carotid bifurcation, and these plaques were strongly associated with stenosis (p<0.001). Furthermore, carotid stenosis was significantly associated with older age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and increased carotid IMT. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a high prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in stroke patients, with an observed association between stenosis and risk factors like age, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. However, the cross-sectional design precludes establishing causality. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.008 *Correspondence: Shakhawat Hossain, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: dr.shakhawathoss@gmail.com. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0)
Background and objectives: The corneal endothelium is essential for maintaining corneal transparency and visual function. Chronic hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can impair endothelial pump activity, resulting in reduced endothelial cell density (ECD) and increased central corneal thickness (CCT). Because endothelial cells do not regenerate, progressive cell loss may lead to irreversible endothelial decompensation. This study evaluates the association of T2DM with ECD and CCT and examines how these parameters relate to diabetes duration, glycaemic control (HbA1c) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at BIRDEM General Hospital, included 86 patients with T2DM and 86 individuals in the non-diabetic group. The T2DM group was subdivided by DR status (no DR, non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR). Following standard ophthalmic examinations, specular microscopy was performed to measure ECD and CCT in the right eye. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multivariate regression (SPSS version 26). Results: Individuals with T2DM demonstrated a significant loss of endothelial cells, with mean ECD 275 cells/mm² lower than the non-diabetic group (2585·18 ± 263·12 vs 2860·06 ± 244·45 cells/mm²; p<0·001). CCT did not differ significantly between groups (527·60 ± 32·93 vs 524·37 ± 40·81 µm; p=0·568). In multivariate regression, age contributed to a loss of 21·25 cells/mm² per year (p<0·001), while T2DM independently accounted for an additional loss of 191·12 cells/mm² (p<0·001). Increasing intraocular pressure (IOP) had no significant effect on ECD (loss of 15·17 cells/mm² per mmHg; p=0·277). Conclusion: T2DM is associated with substantial endothelial cell loss, which is accentuated by longer disease duration, poor glycaemic control and the presence of DR, whereas CCT remains unaffected. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.004 *Correspondence: Umama Islam, Cornea, LASIK & Refractive Surgery, Vision Eye Hospital, 229, Green Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205.Email: dr.umamaislam@gmail.com. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0
Background and objective: Salt intake is an important factor in blood pressure regulation in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review assessed the impact of salt intake on blood pressure (BP) among CKD patients taking age and duration of intake into consideration. Materials and methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was carried out on Semantic Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases. The inclusion criteria were guided by the PICO framework. A total of 337 studies were gathered, after screening 8 studies met the criteria for quality assessment and data extraction (primary outcomes: systolic and diastolic BP). A random-effects model determined the overall effect sizes and heterogeneity across the studies. Results: Low sodium intake significantly (p=0.02) reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) but did not affect the diastolic blood pressure (DBP). High sodium intake had no significant effect on either systolic or diastolic BP. CKD patients aged≤50 years had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to patients >50 years. Additionally, long-term low salt intake had lower systolic and diastolic BP compared to short-term intake in patients with CKD. Conclusion: Low dietary sodium intake improves only systolic BP in CKD patients, especially in younger individuals. CKD patients may benefit more from long-term salt reduction than short-term intake. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.003 *Correspondence: Chikadibia Fyneface Amadi, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Rivers State, Nigeria. Email: worldwaiting@yahoo.com. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0)
Background and Objectives: Preoperative anatomical and functional evaluation of donor kidneys is crucial for successful renal transplantation. While multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography is the standard imaging modality for anatomical assessment, nuclear scintigraphy using Technetium-99m Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetate (Tc-99m DTPA) remains the gold standard for evaluating split renal function (SRF). However, MDCT-based SRF estimation has recently emerged as a viable alternative. The aim of this study is to compare four different MDCT-based SRF measurement techniques and assess their correlation with SRF obtained from nuclear scintigraphy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 111 living kidney donors from 2019 to 2021 who underwent MDCT angiography. SRF was estimated using four CT-based methods: total renal volume, cortical renal volume, ellipsoid method (all using semi-automated ROI-Region of Interest), and differential attenuation of contrast. All measurements were performed using an Advantage Workstation (GE). The calculated SRFs were compared with Tc-99m DTPA-based SRF using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of donors was 44.32±10.25 years (range: 22–69). All four MDCT-based methods showed statistically significant correlation with nuclear scintigraphy SRF. For the right kidney, correlation coefficients (r) were 0.574 (total renal volume), 0.509 (cortical volume), 0.288 (ellipsoid method), and 0.323 (contrast attenuation); for the left kidney, r-values were 0.513, 0.473, 0.262, and 0.251, respectively (all p<0.001). Conclusion: MDCT-based SRF measurements demonstrate a significant correlation with nuclear scintigraphy. Given that MDCT angiography is routinely performed for anatomical evaluation, it can serve as a comprehensive, single-modality approach for both anatomical and functional assessment in living kidney donors. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.002 *Correspondence: S Danish Iqbaal, Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna-800014, Bihar, India. Email: iqbalsdalig@gmail.com © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).
