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A new national survey found many parents experience 

The survey, conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, ultimately found roughly two-thirds of respondents reported the demands of parenthood sometimes or often felt isolating and lonely. Furthermore, 62% felt burned out by parental responsibilities.

In total, 2 in 5 parents (38%) reported feeling like they receive a lack of support regarding these exhausting demands. About 4 in 5 (79%) respondents said they would like to connect with other parents outside of work and home.

“I work from home full-time, and I actually have a job where I’m on camera a lot, and I’m Zoom calling people very often,” said Anne Helms, a mother of 2 young children, in a press release. “However, you don’t get the small talk, so you don’t get the: ‘How are your children? How’s it going?’ And you don’t get a lot of genuine answers when you do ask, ‘How is it going?”

Not talking to her coworkers about her parenthood burdens leaves Helms in frequent isolation.

“There are some days where the most chit-chat or idle talk that I get is with my dog because I work alone,” she added.

Attending a virtual meeting is a stark difference from an in-person meeting, said Kate Gawlik, DNP, associate clinical professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, a researcher on parental burnout and a mother of four young children, in the press release. She added how, with virtual meetings, parents miss out on small interactions in the hallway, eliminating personal touch.

“Even the places that I do try and seek out other parents, it’s kind of like we’re lost in the shuffle because it’s at daycare drop-off or pick-up where everyone just has tunnel vision,” Helms said.

According to a Coram Family and Childcare poll, some parents may feel lonelier than others, such as mothers (30%) feeling more left out than fathers (16%), young parents aged 18 – 24 years (37%) feel more of a lack of companionship than parents aged 25 – 34 years (21%), and parents with lower incomes (33%) feel more isolated than parents with greater incomes (16%).

 The poll surveyed 529 UK parents aged ≥ 18 years who had children aged 0 – 5 years.

Loneliness affects both an individual’s physical and mental health.

 For instance, for physical health, loneliness can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and the immune system. Loneliness can also increase the risk of depression and anxiety.

Being in social isolation for a long time is so unhealthy for the body that it is equivalent to smoking about 15 cigarettes a day.

Since parents face isolation, loneliness, and burnout, Gawlik created a 6-week parenting program to bring parents together, helping them bond over challenges and support each other. Helms joined the program, and it made her no longer feel alone. The program allowed her to understand that it is normal to feel burned out if you are a conscientious parent.

Gawlik and Helms both believe having someone you can relate to in your life promotes a healthier lifestyle. Parents can connect with other parents by searching for groups in their community online, which can be hosted through community centers or their employers. Parents can also meet other parents at playgroups, book clubs, and recreational sports leagues or start talking to the parents about scheduling playdates with their child’s friends from daycare.

“It makes you a better spouse, parent, friend,” Helms said. “I think that it just enriches our lives… just like parenting does, but it just makes you level up.”

Survey Finds Loneliness Epidemic Runs Deep Among Parents. 

https://osuwmc.multimedia-newsroom.com/index.php/2024/04/24/survey-finds-loneliness-epidemic-runs-deep-among-parents/

Loneliness Among Parents of Young Children. 

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/sites/default/files/Resource%20Library/Loneliness%20among%20parents%20of%20young%20children_271119.pdf. Accessed April 26, 2024.

Articles

Many parents experience high levels of isolation, loneliness, and burnout, feeling like there is no one to talk to about their struggles in their daily lives.

News

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Connecting with Other Parents May Ease Parental Loneliness for Many

Expert dermatology physician assistants share how to select the appropriate therapy for your patient with plaque psoriasis in an expanding treatment landscape.

Selecting appropriate therapy in an evolving treatment landscape of plaque psoriasis 

In this series, dermatologists TJ Chao and Kristine Kucera delve into recent developments in plaque psoriasis treatment, including the emergence of TYK2 inhibitors. They highlight the evolving role of physician assistants in managing plaque psoriasis and discuss its recognition as a systemic disease. The conversation covers lab and monitoring requirements for TYK2 inhibitors like deucravacitinib, alongside a review of short- and long-term clinical trial data. Chao and Kucera offer insights into patient selection and the patient experience with oral systemic agents, providing guidance for selecting appropriate therapies in the expanding treatment landscape.

This summary was AI-generated and edited for clarity.

Videos

Selecting Appropriate Therapy in the Evolving Treatment Landscape of Plaque Psoriasis

Experts discuss bimekizumab for the treatment of psoriasis highlighting is efficacy over other treatments.

Exploring Innovation: Recent Approvals and Novel Approaches to Psoriasis Treatment

Bimekizumab, a newly approved biologic for psoriasis, differs from existing biologics in that it blocks both IL-17A and IL-17F. This dual mechanism of action distinguishes it from previous IL-17 blockers, which targeted IL-17A alone. Clinical trials comparing bimekizumab to other biologics demonstrated superior efficacy in achieving complete clearance (PASI-100) and faster onset of response (PASI-75 at week four). In terms of side effects, bimekizumab, like other IL-17 blockers, may cause oral candidiasis. However, most cases are mild to moderate and manageable with treatment. Patients typically tolerate the medication well, and candidiasis rarely leads to discontinuation of treatment. While clinical trial patients may differ from real-world patients in terms of comorbidities, real-world experiences have shown that patients often prioritize the benefits of bimekizumab over the inconvenience of managing candidiasis.

Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by HCPLive® editorial staff.

Peer Exchange

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Plaque Psoriasis

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TJ Chao and Kristine Kucera, PA’s share their insights into the patient experience with oral systemic agents for plaque psoriasis.

Patient experience with oral systemic treatments

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Patient Experience With Oral Systemic Treatments

Abigail Brooks is an assistant editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

-glycosylation status plays in the pathophysiology of 

, findings from a recent study suggest the role of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) as a biomarker for risk of disease progression may merit further research.

Results of the systematic review and meta-analysis were published in 

 and showed serum Gd-IgA1 levels were not associated with validated prognostic risk factors but were negatively correlated with kidney function based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

A chronic kidney disease that progresses over time and can eventually lead to end-stage renal disease, IgAN is caused by deposits of IgA in the glomeruli and often goes unnoticed in its earlier stages. Its clinical course varies from patient to patient, underscoring the importance of Identifying patients at greatest risk of progressive kidney failure. Accordingly, there is a need for new biomarkers in IgAN to improve prognostication, treatment selection, and monitoring response to treatment.

“The utility of Gd-IgA1 levels to predict prognosis is unclear with a number of conflicting studies,” Pedro Alves Soares Vaz de Castro, a medical student at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and colleagues wrote.

To examine the value of serum Gd-IgA1 as a biomarker in IgAN, investigators assessed its association with clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features of IgAN through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus using the keywords “IgA Nephropathy”, “Berger’s Disease”, “Immunoglobulin A nephropathy” and similar entry terms. Observational studies, including case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies, as well as clinical trials were included.

For inclusion, studies were also required to enroll participants with a kidney biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of primary IgAN in whom Gd-IgA1 levels had been measured. Articles published in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese were eligible for inclusion. Investigators excluded studies investigating kidney diseases other than IgAN and recurrent IgAN after kidney transplant.

The initial search yielded 1986 studies, of which 47 were selected for full-text reading after screening the title and abstract and 1938 were excluded due to duplication or not including the study question. A total of 29 studies conducted between 2005 and 2022 ultimately met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review.

Of the included studies, 4 (13.7%) were case-control, 14 (48.2%) were cohort, and 11 (37.9%) were cross-sectional. The studies were from 10 different countries, including China (31.0%), Japan (31.0%), and the United States (17.2%). Investigators noted all studies measured Gd-IgA1 levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, although the technique varied among studies. Additionally, they pointed out a single study measured Gd-IgA1 levels with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Upon analysis, there was no significant difference in serum Gd-IgA1 levels between male and female patients with IgAN. Although 3 studies reported a positive correlation between age and Gd-IgA1 levels, the meta-analysis found no such association.

Investigators noted the association between Gd-IgA1 levels and hypertension, hematuria, and proteinuria were inconsistent. However, despite not being associated with several validated prognostic factors, they called attention to a notable negative correlation between serum Gd-IgA1 and eGFR (r = -0.19; 

Investigators were also careful to note several potential limitations to these findings, including the comparison of studies employing different methods of measuring serum levels of Gd-IgA1 and questionable quality of studies, especially in terms of comparability between groups, that may have led to biases that contributed to the variability of the results.

Nonetheless, investigators concluded that “Serum Gd-IgA1 levels were inconsistently associated with the risk of progressive loss of kidney function, however, there are sufficient data to justify continued evaluation of Gd-IgA1 as a prognostic biomarker in IgAN.”

Vaz de Castro PAS, Amaral AA, Almeida MG, et al. Examining the association between serum galactose-deficient IgA1 and primary IgA nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-023-01874-8

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy. Conditions and Diseases. Accessed April 26, 2024. 

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/immunoglobulin-a-iga-nephropathy

Results showed a negative correlation between serum Gd-IgA1 and kidney function but found no association with several validated IgAN prognostic risk factors.

Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

IgA Nephropathy

The HCPLive Berger disease page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on IgA nephropathy. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in Berger disease, and more.

Study Highlights Serum Gd-IgA1 as Potential Prognostic Biomarker for IgA Nephropathy

Dermatologists Drs Tina Bhutani and Scott Boswell and patient Kanya Oul share resources and tools available to cope with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP).

Tips for Managing Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP)

Physician assistants TJ Chao and Kristine Kucera share their knowledge on which patients make good candidates for TYK2 inhibitors.

Good Candidates for TYK2 Inhibitors

Coping With and Support for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP)

A patient and 2 dermatologists discuss the impact of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) on patient’s quality of life.

Impact of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP) on the Quality of Life

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

This discussion with Ohuabunwa was held at the ACP conference and covered inpatient geriatrics assessment tips for internal medicine physicians.


Internal Medicine

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Geriatrics

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Ugochi Ohuabunwa, MD: Tips for Inpatient Geriatric Management, Frailty Assessment

Larry Ereshefsky, PharmD, discussed the effects of brilaroxazine on inflammatory cytokines and neuroinflammation and how this can impact future schizophrenia treatment.

Schizophrenia

The HCPLive schizophrenia page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on the mental disorder. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for schizophrenia, and more.

Larry Ereshefsky, PharmD: Brilaroxazine Improves Schizophrenia Symptoms

Connor Iapoce is an associate editor for 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in April 2021. He graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. He enjoys listening to records, going to concerts, and playing with his cat Squish. You can reach him at 

Areas with socioeconomic disadvantage often face concentrated poverty, poor walkability, and few healthcare facilities, creating challenges in eye care follow-up.

Diabetic Macular Edema

The HCPLive diabetic macular edema page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on DME. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for the leading cause of blindness, and more.

Race, Neighborhood Influence Lapses in Diabetic Retinopathy Care 

Lana Pine is the editor of HCPLive Rheumatology. She is an experienced editor and technical writer with a demonstrated history of working in the banking and publishing industries. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, listening to podcasts, and drawing. She can be reached via email at LPine@mjhlifesciences.com.

Using a cut-off value of 7.1 kPA for liver stiffness, results of the transient elastography yielded 100% sensitivity and 68% specificity among this patient population. 

Psoriatic Arthritis

On the HCPLive psoriatic arthritis page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into PsA can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on arthritis, and more.

Transient Elastography Deemed Reliable Method to Detect Liver Fibrosis in Patients with PsO Treated with MTX

Patrick Campbell is the managing editor of HCPLive. Formerly the editorial lead of Endocrinology Network, Practical Cardiology, and Rheumatology Network, Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. He now helps to lead coverage in each of these respective areas for HCPLive. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter with the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, PA, and Star News Group in Manasquan, NJ. He also touts experience in multimedia, having spent time as a multimedia specialist with NJ Advance Media and multimedia coordinator at the Pocono Record. Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

Matthew Nudy, MD, discusses a trio of meta-analyses examining the effects of intensive blood pressure control on various targets. 

Hypertension

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Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Matthew Nudy, MD: Balancing the Benefits and Risk of Intensive Blood Pressure Control

Strategies designed to promote medication adherence were found in only 1 out of 3 websites. 

Gout

On the HCPLive gout page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into gouty arthritis can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on gout, and more.

Latest News

Connecting with Other Parents May Ease Parental Loneliness for Many

Selecting Appropriate Therapy in the Evolving Treatment Landscape of Plaque Psoriasis

Exploring Innovation: Recent Approvals and Novel Approaches to Psoriasis Treatment

Patient Experience With Oral Systemic Treatments

Study Highlights Serum Gd-IgA1 as Potential Prognostic Biomarker for IgA Nephropathy