Category: Nevin Manimala

Cardiol Young. 2023 Aug 10:1-7. doi: 10.1017/S1047951123002962. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although COVID-19 is known to have cardiac effects in children, seen primarily in severe disease, more information is needed about the cardiac effects following COVID-19 in non-hospitalised children and adolescents during recovery. This study aims to compare echocardiographic markers of cardiac size and function of children following acute COVID-19 with those of healthy controls.

METHODS: This single-centre retrospective case-control study compared 71 cases seen in cardiology clinic following acute COVID-19 with 33 healthy controls. Apical left ventricle, apical right ventricle, and parasternal short axis at the level of the papillary muscles were analysed to measure ventricular size and systolic function. Strain was analysed on vendor-independent software. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and regression modelling as appropriate (p < 0.05 significant).

RESULTS: Compared to controls, COVID-19 cases had slightly higher left ventricular volumes and lower left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular fractional area change that remained within normal range. There were no differences in right or left ventricular longitudinal strain between the two groups. Neither initial severity nor persistence of symptoms after diagnosis predicted these differences.

CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic findings in children and adolescents 6 weeks to 3 months following acute COVID-19 not requiring hospitalisation were overall reassuring. Compared to healthy controls, the COVID-19 group demonstrated mildly larger left ventricular size and lower conventional measures of biventricular systolic function that remained within the normal range, with no differences in biventricular longitudinal strain. Future studies focusing on longitudinal echocardiographic assessment of patients following acute COVID-19 are needed to better understand these subtle differences in ventricular size and function.

PMID:37560822 | DOI:10.1017/S1047951123002962

Adv Physiol Educ. 2023 Aug 10. doi: 10.1152/advan.00181.2022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Oral demonstration of knowledge is an effective learning and assessment strategy. It has been shown that generating explanations to oneself, or self-explaining, can improve student understanding of information. This can be achieved via student-generated videos. The quantitative effects of student-generated videos on learning and assessment in postsecondary education is unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the effects asynchronous student-generated videos have on student learning and assessment in a large-enrollment (~400 students), undergraduate physiology course. Students were charged with self-generating videos discussing major physiological concepts and uploading these videos to Flip for assessment. Flip is an online, social education platform for asynchronous video-based discussion. In the present study, we combined four semesters (n = 1,100 students) of Flip data and analyzed the effects it had on student examination performance. Specifically, we first analyzed how students performed on exam questions corresponding to their Flip prompts in comparison to students not assigned those prompts (25/44 (57%) were statistically significantly different). Second, we analyzed the association between Flip prompt score and performance on corresponding exam questions (39/44 (89%) were statistically significantly different). Third, we analyzed the association between cumulative Flip score and performance on all corresponding, and non-corresponding exam questions. Finally, we analyzed the association between cumulative Flip score and averaged exam performance. There was a positive association (r = 0.54). Taken together, our data suggest that asynchronous student-generated Flip videos can facilitate student learning and assessment in a large-enrollment, undergraduate physiology course.

PMID:37560782 | DOI:10.1152/advan.00181.2022

Anim Sci J. 2023 Jan-Dec;94(1):e13864. doi: 10.1111/asj.13864.

ABSTRACT

Identification of selection signatures may provide a better understanding of domestication process and candidate genes contributing to this process. In this study, two populations of domestic and wild goats from Iran were analyzed to identify selection signatures. RSB, iHS, and XP-EHH statistics were used in order to identify robust selection signatures in the goat genome. Genotype data of domestic and wild goats from the NextGen project was used. The data was related to 18 Capra aegagrus (wild goat) and 20 Capra hircus (domestic goat) from Iran. The iHS method indicated 675 and 441 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. RSB and XP-EHH methods showed about 370 and 447 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. These selection signatures were mainly associated with milk production, fleece trait, mammary epithelial cells, reproduction, and immune system.

PMID:37560768 | DOI:10.1111/asj.13864

Arch Med Sci. 2021 Apr 8;19(4):1003-1010. doi: 10.5114/aoms/128845. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Multiple studies suggest that cancer leads to activation of clotting and fibrinolysis pathways, elevating the risk of thromboembolic events. Kidney cancer is often complicated by clotting disorders. In this study, we hypothesized that preoperative clotting and fibrinolysis parameters are altered in healthy volunteers and kidney tumor patients. We also hypothesized that these differences may be associated with survival in patients who have undergone operations due to kidney tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 96 patients with kidney tumors and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited at a single university center. All patients were assessed for pre-operative serum concentrations of tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI, total TFPI, full-length TFPI, truncated TFPI), plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), von Willebrand factor (vWF), clotting factor XIII A1 (FXIIIA1), D-dimers, and fibrinogen. Additionally, standard peripheral blood morphology was evaluated.

RESULTS: Malignant kidney tumors were diagnosed in 85 of 96 tumor patients. In patients with kidney tumors, there were statistically significantly higher concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimers, TAT, PAF, TF, TFPI, vWF, FXIIIA1, and leukocyte counts compared to the control group. Statistically significant correlations were found between multiple parameters. This points to significant clotting system alterations. Cox stepwise hazard analysis showed that pre-operative fibrinogen and D-Dimer concentrations were significantly associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with kidney tumors, multiple clotting and fibrinolysis parameters are significantly altered. Routine pre-operative measures should include determination of fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations as these markers aid in prediction of survival probability.

PMID:37560740 | PMC:PMC10408028 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/128845

Arch Med Sci. 2021 Mar 18;19(4):1059-1068. doi: 10.5114/aoms/134635. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Ankle instability is a common injury in athletes, affecting the quality of life, functional limitation, as well as static and dynamic balance. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of virtual reality and Biodex balance training in the treatment of ankle instability in adolescent athletes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety football players were enrolled in this study after the assessment of their eligibility. Their age ranged from 12 to 16 years. They were randomly allocated to three groups of equal numbers. Group 1 received a guideline protocol, group 2 received the same guideline protocol in addition to Wii Sport Training, and group 3 received the same guideline protocol in addition to Biodex balance training. All groups received treatment protocols three times a week for 3 months. Outcome measures included the stability indices (overall stability, anteroposterior stability, and mediolateral) measured by the Biodex Balance System as well as ankle instability measured by the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Measurements were collected at the baseline and after 3 months of treatment.

RESULTS: Post-treatment findings revealed a statistically significant decrease in the overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices, as well as significant increase in Cumberland Ankle Instability outcomes of all groups (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences between the virtual reality and Biodex balance training groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality training has a significant effect which appears to be similar to the Biodex balance training in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability.

PMID:37560731 | PMC:PMC10408012 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/134635

Arch Med Sci. 2021 Jun 4;19(4):941-951. doi: 10.5114/aoms/138145. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Influenza infection is associated with potential serious complications, increased hospitalization rates and a higher risk of death.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis of selected indicators of hospitalization at the University Hospital in Wroclaw was conducted on patients with confirmed influenza infection and a control group during the 2018-2019 influenza season. The threshold for statistical significance of differences between the groups was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The types of influenza viruses confirmed in the hospital patients were remarkably similar to those occurring in the general population in Poland. The largest numbers of influenza cases were observed at the departments related to internal medicine where patients with cardiac, lung and renal diseases were hospitalized. The risk of death among the patients with confirmed influenza infection was significantly higher than among the other patients. The highest risk of death was observed among the patients with confirmed influenza infection at the departments related to internal medicine. Considering patients from the entire hospital, the mean length of hospital stay for those with confirmed influenza was 2.13-fold longer than for those in the control group. Comparisons of the median, minimum and maximum lengths of hospitalization between the patients with confirmed influenza infection and the control group reveal even more distinct differences.

CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in the selected indicators of hospitalization were observed between the patients with confirmed influenza infection and the control group; they are associated with serious social costs, such as prolonged hospital stay and a higher risk of death during hospitalization in Poland.

PMID:37560729 | PMC:PMC10408030 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/138145

Arch Med Sci. 2020 Jul 15;19(4):1011-1015. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2020.97281. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to explore the effects of combination of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in pregnancy outcome in women diagnosed with congenital uterine malformation (CUM). The observation criteria include pregnancy rate, misdiagnosis rate, rate of spontaneous abortion and preterm birth rate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 180 patients with congenital uterine malformation, who were treated in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2018, were enrolled in the study. Prior to hospitalization, all the patients had neither a history of genital tract surgery nor endocrine abnormalities, chromosomal abnormalities, immune abnormalities or other factors affecting pregnancy. Furthermore, the ovarian functions were normal, and there were no factors leading to infertility in the male partners. The diagnosis was mainly based on medical history, clinical manifestations, gynecological examinations, and ultrasonography including two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography, as well as hysterosalpingogram (HSG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hysteroscopy, and/or laparoscopy or surgery. Patients were diagnosed and classified according to the Buttram classification.

RESULTS: Among these 180 patients, 37 patients were diagnosed with complete septate uterus, 96 patients had sub-septate uterus, 25 patients had unicornuate uterus, 11 patients were diagnosed with bicornuate uterus, and 11 patients had didelphic uterus. The total number of preoperative pregnancies was 112, including 106 spontaneous abortions, with an abortion rate of 94.64%, and 86 total postoperative pregnancies, among which spontaneous abortions occurred 11 times, with an abortion rate of 12.79%. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Uterine malformation surgery can significantly improve the reproductive prognosis in patients with CUM.

PMID:37560726 | PMC:PMC10408007 | DOI:10.5114/aoms.2020.97281

Arch Med Sci. 2023 Jan 20;19(4):1049-1058. doi: 10.5114/aoms/159343. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To explore the epidemiological characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Guangxi Province of China through a large sample survey of more than 50 million aboriginal aboriginal population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) codes M45.x00(AS), M45.x03+(AS with iridocyclitis), and M40.101(AS with kyphosis) to search the database in the National Health Statistics Network Direct Reporting System (NHSNDRS). 14004 patients were eventually included in the study. The parameters analyzed included the number of patients, gender, marriage, blood type, occupation, age at diagnosis, and location of household registration data each year, and statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS: AS incidence rates increased from 1.30 (95% CI: 1.20-1.40) per 100,000 person-years in 2014 to 5.71 (95% CI: 5.50-5.92) in 2020 in Guangxi Province, and decreased slightly in 2021. Males have a higher incidence than females; the ratio was 5.61 : 1. The mean age of diagnosis in male patients was 45.4 (95% CI: 45.1-45.7) years, in females 47.6 (95% CI: 46.8-48.4) years. The most frequent blood type was O, and the most frequent occupation was farmer. The AS incidence rate was disparate in different cities. Liuzhou city had the highest eight-year average AS incidence rates from 2014 to 2021, and Chongzuo city had the lowest (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence between different ethnic groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The AS person-years incidence rate was increasing in Guangxi province of China from 2014 to 2020, which had obvious gender and regional differences, showing the characteristics of local area aggregation.

PMID:37560717 | PMC:PMC10408009 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/159343

Arch Med Sci. 2021 Apr 17;19(4):1016-1021. doi: 10.5114/aoms/135708. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to assess the percentage share of musculus obliquus externus abdominis, musculus obliquus internus abdominis and musculus transversus abdominis activity among women suffering from stress urinary incontinence using ultrasound imaging.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is a retrospective analysis of prospective collected data of 84 women aged 23-62 years. In the study group are women suffering from grade 1 or 2 stress urinary incontinence according to the Stamey classification; the control group consists of women with no micturition disorders. The abdominal muscles’ activity was measured by using ultrasound imaging with assessment of muscle thickness.

RESULTS: The analysis of musculus obliquus externus abdominis in anterolateral abdominal wall activity shows a statistically significant difference between study and control groups concerning isometric tension of abdominal muscles (p = 0.012) and lower abdomen tension (p = 0.004). Women with stress urinary incontinence present higher activity of the musculus obliquus externus abdominis than women in the control group. In the case of the musculus obliquus internus abdominis, statistically significant differences were found during tension of the lower part of the abdomen (p = 0.024). Comparison of activity of the musculus transversus abdominis between study and control groups shows a statistically significant difference during isometric tension of abdominal muscles (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of activity of the assessed muscles differs between the study group and the control group. In the study group, the activity pattern concerns the higher activity of the musculus obliquus externus abdominis and the lower activity of the musculus obliquus internus abdominis and musculus transversus abdominis.

PMID:37560716 | PMC:PMC10408005 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/135708

Heliyon. 2023 Jul 28;9(8):e18807. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18807. eCollection 2023 Aug.

ABSTRACT

The aluminium alloy (AA1100) was familiar with automotive flexible shaft coupling applications due to its high strength, good machinability, and superior thermal and resistance to corrosion characteristics. Machining tool life drives the prominent role for deciding the product quality (machining) act aims to productivity target with zero interruptions. The novelty of this present investigation is the focus on increasing tool life during the complexity of CNC turning operation for AA1100 alloy by using CBN coated insert tool with varied input parameters of spindle speed (SS), feed rate (f), and depth of cut (DOC). Design of experiment (L16), analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical system adopted with response surface methodology (RSM) is implemented for experimental analysis. The turning input parameters of SS, f and DOC are considered as factors and its SS (900, 1100, 1300, and 1500 rpm), f (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25), and DOC (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mm) values are treated as levels. The investigational analysis was made with the ANOVA technique and the desirability of high tool life with input turning parameters was optimized by RSM, and sample no 11/16 was predicted as high tool life and performed with extended working hours compared to other samples. The RSM optimized best turning parameter combinations are 0.1 mm DOC, 0.2mm/rev to 0.25mm/rev f, and 1300 rpm-1500 rpm SS, facilitating a higher tool life of more than 20min.

PMID:37560707 | PMC:PMC10407727 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18807