Introduction: Distress is common among cancer patients, especially those undergoing surgery. However, no study has systematically analyzed distress trends in this population. The purpose of this study was to systematically review perioperative rates of distress, as well as differences across cancer types, in cancer patients undergoing surgical intervention.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO (searched until July 17, 2023). Included studies were clinical studies of cancer patients undergoing surgery reporting distress measured by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer (DT). Data on study and patient characteristics, and preoperative and postoperative distress rates were extracted. Results were pooled, and overall distress rates were calculated as weighted means. Subanalysis by cancer type was performed. Three meta‐analyses were conducted: (1) preoperative distress, (2) postoperative distress, and (3) change in distress.Results: Fifty‐seven studies including 13,410 cancer patients were reviewed. Most patients were female (67.4%), White (77.8%), and married/partnered (72.2%), with an average age of 59.2 years. The most common cancers were breast (14 studies), brain (8), and colorectal (7). Weighted mean pre‐ and postoperative distress scores were 5.1 and 4.5, respectively. Distress remained high through 30 days postoperatively, then declined thereafter. Brain cancer patients reported the highest postoperative distress (5.1), followed by breast cancer patients (4.9).Conclusion: The perioperative phase is a critical period of elevated distress in cancer patients. Preoperatively, patients experience moderate to severe levels of distress, which persist throughout the early postoperative phase, gradually declining from the 1‐month postoperative mark onwards.

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) threaten public health and food security globally. We provide the first biogeographic description of the African mosquito fauna (677 species) and the 151 mosquito-borne pathogens (MBPs) they transmit. While mosquito species richness agrees with expectations based on Africa's land surface, African arboviruses and mammalian plasmodia are more speciose than expected. Species assemblages of mosquitoes and MBPs similarly separate sub-Saharan Africa from North Africa, and those in West and Central Africa from eastern and southern Africa. Similarities between mosquitoes and MBPs in diversity and range size suggest that mosquitoes are key in delimiting the range of MBPs. With approximately 25% endemicity, approximately 50% occupying one to three countries and less than 5% occupying greater than 25 countries, the ranges of mosquitoes and MBPs are surprisingly small, suggesting that most MBPs are transmitted by a single mosquito species. Exceptionally widespread mosquito species feed on people and livestock, and most are high-altitude-windborne migrants. Likewise, widespread MBPs are transmitted among people or livestock by widespread mosquitoes, suggesting that adapting to people or livestock and to widespread mosquito species promote range expansion in MBPs. Range size may predict range expansion and emergence risk. We highlight key knowledge gaps that impede prediction and mitigation of future emergence of local and global MBDs.

Introduction: To evaluate longitudinal peripapillary changes in cognitively normal older adults using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Methods: Participants older than 50 years with no history of neurodegenerative disease or cognitive impairment were prospectively enrolled. OCT and OCTA images were obtained at the first visit and 2 years later. Results: The study comprised 189 eyes of 111 adults with a mean age (±SD) of 69.3 ± 5.8 years and mean follow-up of 2.1 ± 0.5 years. Woman experienced slower rate of decline than men in capillary perfusion density (0.000% ± 0.005% vs −0.002% ± 0.004%; P = .038) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (0.133 ± 1.617 µm vs −0.659 ± 1.431 µm; P = .008). At both timepoints, after controlling for sex, the capillary perfusion density ( P < .001), capillary flux index ( P < .001), and RNFL thickness ( P = .005) were lower in older participants. The mean capillary perfusion density was higher in women than in men at both timepoints ( P = .01 and P = .002, respectively), with no significant differences in the capillary flux index and RNFL thickness. Conclusions: In cognitively normal adults, there is a significant reduction in peripapillary capillary perfusion density, the capillary flux index, and RNFL thickness associated with aging beyond 50 years. Women had higher capillary perfusion density values with slower rates of change in capillary perfusion density and RNFL thickness. These values can serve as benchmarks, and variations could be suspicious for a pathologic process.