Category: Nevin Manimala

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2024 Feb 27. doi: 10.1039/d4cp00297k. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The changes in free energy, enthalpy, and entropy for transfer of a solute from the gas phase into solution are the fundamental thermodynamic quantities that characterize the solvation process. Owing to the development of methods based on free-energy perturbation theory, computation of free energies of solvation has become routine in conjunction with Monte Carlo (MC) statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Computation of the enthalpy change and by inference the entropy change is more challenging. Two methods are considered in this work corresponding to direct averaging for the solvent and solution and to computing the temperature derivative of the free energy in the van’t Hoff approach. The application is for neutral organic solutes in TIP4P water using long MC simulations to improve precision. Definitive results are also provided for pure TIP4P water. While the uncertainty in computed free energies of hydration is ca. 0.05 kcal mol^-1, it is ca. 0.4 kcal mol^-1 for the enthalpy changes from either van’t Hoff plots or the direct method with sampling for 5 billion MC configurations. Partial molar volumes of hydration are also computed by the direct method; they agree well with experimental data with an average deviation of 3 cm³ mol^-1. In addition, the results permit breakdown of the errors in the free energy changes from the OPLS-AA force field into their enthalpic and entropic components. The excess hydrophobicity of organic solutes is enthalpic in origin.

PMID:38412420 | DOI:10.1039/d4cp00297k

West Afr J Med. 2024 Jan 31;41(1):65-73.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Un-investigated dyspepsia has remained a common encounter among patients seen in primary care in sub-Saharan Africa. A preventive approach through counselling patients on modifications of lifestyle factors related to dyspepsia could be a cost-effective approach to dyspepsia management in primary care in low- and middle-income settings.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to describe the sociodemographic patterns of adult patients with un-investigated dyspepsia in the Family Medicine Clinics, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria, to describe the pattern of lifestyle factors among adult patients with un-investigated dyspepsia, to determine the relationship between lifestyle patterns and un-investigated dyspepsia and to describe the specific food types that precipitate dyspepsia among the respondents.

METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study using the Short Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire to describe the presence and severity of dyspepsia and the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire to describe the lifestyle patterns of participants.

RESULTS: Most respondents (66.9%) have healthy dietary patterns however more respondents 66(52.4%) engaged in unhealthy levels of physical exercise. The Stress level was intermediate in majority of respondents (66.1%). There was no statistically significant association between lifestyle indicators and severity of dyspepsia among the respondents although the linear regression model with p-value < 0.01 and < 0.05, revealed stress as a predictor of dyspepsia in this study.

CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between lifestyle indicators and Uninvestigated dyspepsia among the study participants. However, some specific local foods were identified as precipitants of dyspepsia. Primary care physicians may consider a targeted dietary modification counselling approach in managing patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia.

PMID:38412405

Menopause. 2024 Feb 27. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002326. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of noninvasive radiofrequency (RF) with vaginal estrogen (E), and vaginal moisturizer (M) on improving vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

METHODS: A total of 32 postmenopausal women who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into three intervention arms to receive one of the following treatments: three sessions of noninvasive RF therapy (RF arm); intravaginal estriol cream 1 mg applied daily for 2 weeks, followed by 1 mg applied two times weekly or 1 mg of estradiol vaginal fast-dissolving film applied daily for 2 weeks, followed by 1 mg applied two times weekly (E arm); and intravaginal moisturizer two times a week (M arm). Assessments at baseline and after 4 months were conducted using Vaginal Health Index score, Vaginal Maturation, visual analog scale for VVA symptoms (dyspareunia, dryness, and burning), and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for urogenital symptoms. Vaginal wall biopsies were administered to participants who consented, pretreatment and posttreatment (at baseline and after 4 months of follow-up).

RESULTS: After 4 months, the Vaginal Health Index showed an increase of 6.6 points in mean total score in the RF arm, also in the E arm (+7.3 points), with no significant improvement in the M arm (+1.5 points) (interaction effect: RF, E ≠ M, P < 0.001). Regarding vaginal maturation, there was a significant increase in superficial cells in the E arm (+31.3), with no significant changes in the RF (+9.3) and M (-0.5) arms (interaction effect: E ≠ M, P < 0.001). Vaginal pH decreased significantly in the E arm (-1.25), with a similar response in the RF arm (-1.7), with no significant improvement in the M arm (-0.25) (interaction effect: RF, E ≠ M, P < 0.001).There was a significant improvement in the MRS score for VVA symptoms in the three intervention arms, with no predominance of any arm, whereas the improvement in the total MRS score for urogenital symptoms showed a predominance of the RF arm (ΔRF: -7.8; ΔE: -3.5; ΔM: -2.3; RF ≠ E, M). According to histopathologic analysis, there was no statistically significant increase in glycogenation (P = 0.691) or epithelial cone height (P = 0.935), despite an increase in the median delta (difference between pretreatment and posttreatment) in the three intervention arms (glycogenation: RF arm Δ = +118.4%; E arm Δ = +130.9%; M arm Δ = +24.9%; epithelial cone height: RF arm Δ = +33.5%; E arm Δ = +18.6%; M arm Δ = +22.3%).

CONCLUSION: The effect of noninvasive RF on the treatment of vulvovaginal symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause was similar to vaginal estrogen, except for hormonal cytology, and superior to vaginal moisturizer, with improvement in some histomorphometric parameters. These findings are promising, especially for the population that cannot or prefers not to use vaginal estrogen therapy.

PMID:38412393 | DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000002326

Small. 2024 Feb 27:e2311416. doi: 10.1002/smll.202311416. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Inkjet-printing of graphene, iGr, provides an alternative route for the fabrication of highly conductive and flexible graphene films for use in devices. However, the contribution of quantum phenomena associated with 2D single layer graphene, SLG, to the charge transport in iGr is yet to be explored. Here, the first magneto-transport study of iGr in high magnetic fields up to 60 T is presented. The observed quantum phenomena, such as weak localization and negative magnetoresistance, are strongly affected by the thickness of the iGr film and can be explained by a combination of intra- and inter-flake classical and quantum charge transport. The quantum nature of carrier transport in iGr is revealed using temperature, electric field, and magnetic field dependences of the iGr conductivity. These results are relevant for the exploitation of inkjet deposition of graphene, which is of particular interest for additive manufacturing and 3D printing of flexible and wearable electronics. It is shown that printed nanostructures enable ensemble averaging of quantum interference phenomena within a single device, thereby facilitating comparison between experiment and underlying statistical models of electron transport.

PMID:38412384 | DOI:10.1002/smll.202311416

Fam Pract. 2024 Feb 27:cmae010. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmae010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China continues to escalate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of family support system on the self-management behaviour of patients with T2DM.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1,042 participants were sampled using a multistage stratified probability-proportionate-to-size method. On-site interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire administered by 122 family doctors from 13 community health service centres in 8 administrative districts. A structural equation model was established to investigate the impact of individual factors and family support system on the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software.

RESULTS: The self-management behaviour pass rate among individuals with T2DM was 40.9%. In terms of individual factors, those with a high school education level or above demonstrated higher self-management behaviour scores than those with a junior high school education level or lower. The structural equation model revealed a path of interactions among individual factors, family support system-related factors, and the self-management behaviour of patients with T2DM: Family function → Family support → Patients’ self-management behaviour → Quality of life. The coefficient of the direct path from family function to family support was 0.74 (P < 0.001), while the coefficient of the direct path from family support to self-management behaviour was 0.68 (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: There is significant room for improvement in the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients in China. Family function can enhance the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients by promoting family support.

PMID:38412362 | DOI:10.1093/fampra/cmae010

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2024 Feb 27. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-23-1293. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing ovarian cancer (OC) from other gynecological malignancies is crucial for patient survival yet hindered by non-specific symptoms and limited understanding of OC pathogenesis. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between OC and deregulated lipid metabolism. Most studies have small sample sizes, especially for early-stage cases, and lack racial/ethnic diversity, necessitating more inclusive research for improved OC diagnosis and prevention.

METHODS: Here, we profiled the serum lipidome of 208 OC, including 93 patients with early-stage OC, and 117 non-OC (other gynecological malignancies) patients of Korean descent. Serum samples were analyzed with a high-coverage liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry platform, and lipidome alterations were investigated via statistical and machine learning approaches.

RESULTS: We found lipidome alterations unique to OC were present in Korean women as early as when the cancer is localized, and those changes increase in magnitude as the diseases progresses. Analysis of relative lipid abundances revealed specific patterns for various lipid classes, with most classes showing decreased abundance in OC in comparison to other gynecological diseases. Machine learning methods selected a panel of 17 lipids that discriminated OC from non-OC cases with an AUC of 0.85 for an independent test set.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a systemic analysis of lipidome alterations in human OC, specifically in Korean women.

IMPACT: Here, we show the potential of circulating lipids in distinguishing OC from non-OC conditions.

PMID:38412029 | DOI:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-23-1293

United European Gastroenterol J. 2024 Feb 27. doi: 10.1002/ueg2.12541. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Faecal incontinence is a common debilitating condition associated with poor quality of life that generates substantial economic strain on healthcare systems.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate, in a tertiary referral population presenting with faecal incontinence, the impact of suffering additional disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) on symptom severity, anxiety, depression and quality of life.

METHODS: Design: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: Tertiary referral Neurogastroenterology centre.

PATIENTS: All patients presenting with faecal incontinence from 2007 to 2020 were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results from structured medical and surgical questionnaires including Rome III Integrative Questionnaire, Faecal Incontinence Severity Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SF-36, and anorectal physiology were analysed using Stata version 17. Patients were categorised into 3 groups: 0-1 additional DGBI, 2 DGBIs, and 3+ DGBI. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05 (two-tailed).

KEY RESULTS: Faecal incontinence patients (n = 249; mean age 63.4 ± 12.6 years; 93.6% female, 48.1% urge subtype) met diagnostic criteria for mean 2.2 additional DGBI each, mostly affecting bowel (n = 231, 42.4%) and anorectal (n = 150, 27.5%) regions. A greater number of DGBIs was associated with higher faecal incontinence symptom severity (p < 0.001), higher anxiety (p = 0.002) and depression (p = 0.003), and worse quality of life in areas of mental health (p = 0.037) and social effect (p < 0.001). Patients with a greater number of concurrent DGBI demonstrated a greater family history of gastrointestinal problems (p = 0.004). There were no associations found between a greater amount of DGBIs and anorectal physiology.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: A greater number of additional DGBIs in faecal incontinence patients was associated with worse faecal incontinence symptoms, higher anxiety and depression scores, and worse quality of life but was unrelated to physiology. This highlights the need to proactively search for comorbid DGBI in patients presenting with faecal incontinence.

PMID:38412024 | DOI:10.1002/ueg2.12541

JMIR Med Educ. 2024 Feb 27;10:e50156. doi: 10.2196/50156.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have predominantly measured e-professionalism through perceptions or attitudes, yet there exists no validated measure specifically targeting the actual behaviors of health care professionals (HCPs) in this realm. This study addresses this gap by constructing a normative framework, drawing from 3 primary sources to define e-professional behavior across 6 domains. Four domains pertain to the dangers of social networking sites (SNSs), encompassing confidentiality, privacy, patient interaction, and equitable resource allocation. Meanwhile, 2 domains focus on the opportunities of SNSs, namely, the proactive dissemination of public health information and maintaining scientific integrity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and validate 2 new measures assessing the e-professional behavior of doctors of medicine (MDs) and doctors of dental medicine (DMDs), focusing on both the dangers and opportunities associated with SNSs.

METHODS: The study used a purposive sample of MDs and DMDs in Croatia who were users of at least one SNS. Data collection took place in 2021 through an online survey. Validation of both indexes used a formative approach, which involved a 5-step methodology: content specification, indicators definition with instructions for item coding and index construction, indicators collinearity check using the variance inflation factor (VIF), external validity test using multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model, and external validity test by checking the relationships of the indexes with the scale of attitude toward SNSs using Pearson correlation coefficients.

RESULTS: A total of 753 responses were included in the analysis. The first e-professionalism index, assessing the dangers associated with SNSs, comprises 14 items. During the indicators collinearity check, all indicators displayed acceptable VIF values below 2.5. The MIMIC model showed good fit (χ²₁₃=9.4, P=.742; χ²/df=0.723; root-mean-square error of approximation<.001; goodness-of-fit index=0.998; comparative fit index=1.000). The external validity of the index is supported by a statistically significant negative correlation with the scale measuring attitudes toward SNSs (r=-0.225, P<.001). Following the removal of 1 item, the second e-professionalism index, focusing on the opportunities associated with SNSs, comprises 5 items. During the indicators collinearity check, all indicators exhibited acceptable VIF values below 2.5. Additionally, the MIMIC model demonstrated a good fit (χ²₄=2.5, P=.718; χ²/df=0.637; root-mean-square error of approximation<0.001; goodness-of-fit index=0.999; comparative fit index=1.000). The external validity of the index is supported by a statistically significant positive correlation with the scale of attitude toward SNSs (r=0.338; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Following the validation process, the instrument designed for gauging the e-professional behavior of MDs and DMDs consists of 19 items, which contribute to the formation of 2 distinct indexes: the e-professionalism index, focusing on the dangers associated with SNSs, comprising 14 items, and the e-professionalism index, highlighting the opportunities offered by SNSs, consisting of 5 items. These indexes serve as valid measures of the e-professional behavior of MDs and DMDs, with the potential for further refinement to encompass emerging forms of unprofessional behavior that may arise over time.

PMID:38412021 | DOI:10.2196/50156

Otol Neurotol. 2024 Feb 28. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004158. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the onset of otitis media secretory, the peak period of infection with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the time of transmigration during a pandemic of the Omicron strain. Additionally, the study aims to investigate to study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the middle ear cavity of patients with otitis media secretory and the survival time through a new method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen in middle ear effusion.

METHODS: Retrospective comparison of the incidence of otitis media secretory during infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, versus the noninfection period from December 15, 2021, to January 15, 2022. We used a questionnaire star application to investigate the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of the 40 patients with otitis media secretory who participated in this study were investigated. A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) antigen detection kit (colloidal gold method) was used to detect middle ear effusion in patients with otitis media secretory. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 29.0 software. The measurement data are expressed as x ± s, the count data are expressed as the number of cases (%), and the data were compared using the χ2 test. p < 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference.

RESULTS: During the SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain pandemic, the incidence of otitis media secretory increased by 15% compared with the noninfection period. The peak infection period for the SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain was December 25, 2022, and December 15, 2022, and the peak time of conversion was 7 to 9 days after the infection. Middle ear effusion SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen testing was performed in patients with otitis media secretory after conversion; 5 patients (12%) were positive, and 35 patients (88%) were negative. The disease duration in patients with negative results was more than 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Otitis media secretory is one of the most common ear complications after infection with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the significantly higher incidence is associated with middle ear viral infection. Middle ear effusion SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen test detected the virus, which survived longer in the middle ear effusion than in the nasal cavity. The middle ear effusion test can detect SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen and determine whether the organism contains virus residue.

PMID:38412019 | DOI:10.1097/MAO.0000000000004158

West Afr J Med. 2024 Jan 31;41(1):16-24.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies on healthcare professionals’ knowledge about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are scarce. Therefore, we assessed the knowledge and practice of the NHIS referral system among Medical and Dental practitioners in a tertiary hospital in Northwest Nigeria.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 242 medical and dental practitioners randomly selected from nine departments for over 6-weeks. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: The respondents’ mean age was 35.7±6.0 years; they were predominantly males (64.9%). Their mean overall knowledge score was 58.9±23.0%, with 66.9% of respondents having inadequate overall knowledge of the NHIS referral system. Practice department (Fishers 2 exact, P=0.0019), perceived knowledge of the referral system (ꭓ =8.169, P=0.004), and having been referred as an enrolee (ꭓ2 = 6.358, P=0.012) were associated with overall-knowledge. Obstetrics-and-Gynaecology (odds ratio[OR]=0.29, 95% confident interval [CI] [0.88-0.98]), Dental and-Maxillofacial-Surgery (OR=0.08, 95%CI[0.01-0.98]), and Otorhinolaryngology (OR=0.18, 95%CI[0.04-0.80]) respondents were less likely to have adequate overall-knowledge.Although 56.2%, 50.4%, 20.7%, and 89.7% were enrolees, had received treatment as enrolees, had been referred as enrolees and treated other enrolees, respectively, an unimpressive proportion had sighted a referral letter (64.9%) or authorization code on the letter (25.2%), referred an enrolee from their department previously (51.2%) or used the NHIS referral form to write referrals (38.8%).

CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge of the NHIS referral system was inadequate. The practice of the referral system was below expectation. Therefore, training medical and dental practitioners on the NHIS referral system is necessary. Training should target those who are least likely to have adequate overall knowledge.

PMID:38412015