Category: Nevin Manimala

Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Jul-Sep;27(3):229-234. doi: 10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_261_22. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and abdominal obesity are important determinants of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Ample studies provide statistical data on the prevalence of MetS among the general public. Conversely, there is a paucity of data on the risk of MetS among different sedentary occupational groups.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of MetS among female school teachers and to identify factors contributing to MetS.

METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted among 256 female school teachers residing in Chennai city. A questionnaire was used to elicit information on the socio-demographic profile, diet pattern, physical fitness, and genetic history of lifestyle diseases. Anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical parameters were measured using standard methods. MetS was diagnosed using the harmonizing definition. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software.

RESULTS: Results evince that 39.45% of female school teachers were diagnosed with MetS, of which 26.56% had three components, 9.77% had four components, and 3.12% had all components of MetS. Abdominal obesity (99%) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (96.04%) were the most predominant components. The least common component was diastolic hypertension (32.67%). MetS components were high among school teachers aged 36-45 years and 46-55 years. Age, fasting hyperglycemia, paternal history of hypertension, physical inactivity, eating out, and consumption of refined cereals significantly contributed to MetS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Results highlight the need to identify high-risk individuals and promote a healthy lifestyle through various intervention programs.

PMID:38047171 | PMC:PMC10691516 | DOI:10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_261_22

Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Jul-Sep;27(3):260-264. doi: 10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_237_21. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

ABSTRACT

Women in sea food processing units were involved in pre processing, grading, cleaning, freezing and packaging and they adopted static and awkward posture which results in low back pain. The aim of the present study is to analyze the factors that contribute to low back pain among women workers. A total of 244 women workers participated in the study. Socio economic background and frequency of musculoskeletal discomforts were studied. Descriptive statistics, chi square analysis and factor analysis were carried out to identify the factors contributing to low back pain. Women were involved in peeling (48.8%), setting (26.6%) and grading (24.6%) activity. Factor analysis indicated that work environment contributed to 33%, personal factors contributed to19%, work organization contributed to 16% and socio economic factors contributed to 11% for the low back pain. Worker education and periodical health surveillance will help to minimize the risk of low back pain among the women in industrial settings.

PMID:38047170 | PMC:PMC10691521 | DOI:10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_237_21

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023 Nov 28;16:4817-4828. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S428167. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Harsh parenting is positively correlated with adolescents’ smartphone addiction, according to a growing corpus of studies. The various mediating processes that could underlie this link, however, are not well understood. Based upon the experiential avoidance model, the current research aimed to identify the relation between harsh parenting and adolescents’ smartphone addiction and the mediating roles of adolescents’ depression and experiential avoidance.

METHODS: We recruited 456 adolescents (female = 52.6%; M_age = 13.19 years, SD = 0.85) at a public junior high school in China to complete the harsh discipline scale, 90-item Hopkins symptom checklist, acceptance and action questionnaire version II, and smartphone addiction scale short version. SPSS24.0 was used to conduct independent samples t-test, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and common method bias test, PROCESS were used to conduct a significance test of the chain mediation effect on the data. Age, gender, and grade were used as con-founders that were controlled in order to make cautious predictions.

RESULTS: The results showed that (1) harsh parenting was positively correlated with adolescents’ depression, experiential avoidance, and smartphone addiction; (2) both depression and experiential avoidance fully mediated the link between harsh parenting and smartphone addiction; and (3) depression and experiential avoidance also sequentially mediated the link between harsh parenting and smartphone addiction. These findings have significant implications for the prevention and intervention of adolescents’ smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that harsh parenting may have an indirect impact on smartphone addiction in both a simple way (parallel mediation) and a complicated way (serial mediation). In addition, these studies shed light on smartphone addiction prevention and intervention.

PMID:38047152 | PMC:PMC10693199 | DOI:10.2147/PRBM.S428167

Cereb Cortex. 2023 Dec 2:bhad457. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhad457. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Current theories of attention differentiate exogenous from endogenous orienting of visuospatial attention. While both forms of attention orienting engage different functional systems, endogenous and exogenous attention are thought to share resources, as shown by empirical evidence of their functional interactions. The present study aims to uncover the neurobiological basis of how salient events that drive exogenous attention disrupts endogenous attention processes. We hypothesize that interference from exogenous attention over endogenous attention involves alpha-band activity, a neural marker of visuospatial attention. To test this hypothesis, we contrast the effects of endogenous attention across two experimental tasks while we recorded electroencephalography (n = 32, both sexes): a single cueing task where endogenous attention is engaged in isolation, and a double cueing task where endogenous attention is concurrently engaged with exogenous attention. Our results confirm that the concurrent engagement of exogenous attention interferes with endogenous attention processes. We also found that changes in alpha-band activity mediate the relationship between endogenous attention and its effect on task performance, and that the interference of exogenous attention on endogenous attention occurs via the moderation of this indirect effect. Altogether, our results substantiate a model of attention, whereby endogenous and exogenous attentional processes involve the same neurophysiological resources.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Scientists differentiate top-down from bottom-up visuospatial attention processes. While bottom-up attention is rapidly engaged by emerging demands from the environment, top-down attention in contrast reflects slow voluntary shifts of spatial attention. Several lines of research substantiate the idea that top-down and bottom-up attentional processes involve distinct functional systems. An increasing number of studies, however, argue that both attention systems share brain processing resources. The current study examines how salient visual events that engage bottom-up processes interfere with top-down attentional processes. Using neurophysiological recordings and multivariate pattern classification techniques, the authors show that these patterns of interference occur within the alpha-band of neural activity (8-12 Hz), which implies that bottom-up and top-down attention processes share this narrow-band frequency brain resource. The results further demonstrate that patterns of alpha-band activity explains, in part, the interference between top-down and bottom-up attention at the behavioral level.

PMID:38044466 | DOI:10.1093/cercor/bhad457

J Dent Educ. 2023 Dec 3. doi: 10.1002/jdd.13431. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The desirability of Orthodontic Residency remains high today relative to the past 30 years. This investigation seeks to re-assess factors influencing Orthodontic Residency program selection amidst contemporary challenges and changes, including increasing student debt, reduced residency stipends, and shifting practice models.

METHODS: This mixed-methods study consisted of interviews (qualitative) and surveys (quantitative). Fifteen final-year dental students and first-year orthodontic residents were interviewed one-on-one following a topic guide and then transcripts were analyzed using MAXQDA2022 to identify values, factors, and influences related to program selection and ranking. Qualitative findings and previous studies provided the basis for a survey distributed to residency applicants in 2020-22. Data were analyzed with bivariate and descriptive statistics with stratification by debt group.

RESULTS: Interviews (N = 15) elevated the importance of location, interview experience, program cost, and clinical education. Surveys (N = 239) identified the most desirable factors for program selection: satisfied residents, strong clinical training with multiple techniques, good interview impressions, low cost, high patient numbers, a strong reputation, and good clinical facilities with new technology. Less desirable factors include programs that are hospital-based, certificate-only, research-intensive, and require considerable after-hours work.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinical education and interview experiences are key for residency selection, consistent with prior studies, though program cost has grown in importance. Findings can help guide orthodontic programs in recruiting applicants and suggest a need to limit educational costs.

PMID:38044465 | DOI:10.1002/jdd.13431

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Dec 3;23(1):962. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03674-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gingival recession and post-operation discomfort are still a problem for patients receiving the periodontal regeneration surgery for intra-bony defects. To further reduce the trauma and the post-operation gingival recession, a novel periodontal endoscopy-aided non-incisional regeneration technique (NIT) was proposed in the treatment of intra-bony defects.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 21 subjects treated with NIT and 21 subjects with periodontal endoscopy-aided scaling and root planing (PSRP) at baseline and 1-year evaluation was conducted. After removing the subgingival calculus and granulation tissue, bone grafting materials were placed into intrabony defects with the assistance of a gingival retractor in the NIT group. Probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL), as well as the distance between bone crest (BC) level and base of the defect (BD) (intrabony defect depth, IBD) were evaluated at baseline and 1 year after treatment.

RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, the value of CAL, PD and IBD were statistically significant different compared with baseline in both two groups (p<0.001). CAL gain (p = 0.012) and PD reduction (p = 0.004) was greater in the NIT than PSRP. However, no difference in the IBD reduction was found between the NIT group and PSRP. Better CAL gain and PD reduction was achieved in the 1-year term in the NIT when compared with PSRP.

CONCLUSION: NIT have resulted in significant gains in both clinical and radiographic parameters. NIT might be utilized as an alternative of the surgical treatment for periodontal intrabony defects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial registration was registered retrospectively (August 3, 2023) and the number is ChiCTR2300074317.

PMID:38044459 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03674-9

World J Surg Oncol. 2023 Dec 4;21(1):379. doi: 10.1186/s12957-023-03254-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Abdominally based free flaps are commonly used in breast reconstruction. A frequent complication is venous congestion, which might contribute to around 40% of flap failures. One way to deal with it is venous supercharging. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the scientific evidence for the effects of venous supercharging.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane library. The included articles were critically appraised, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were included. Most studies had serious study limitations and problems with directness. Three studies report ‘routine’ use of venous supercharging and performed it prophylactically in patients who did not have clinical signs of venous congestion. Seventeen studies report on flap complications, of which one is a randomised controlled trial demonstrating statistically significant lower complication rates in the intervention group. The overall certainty of evidence for the effect of a venous supercharging on flap complications, length of hospital stay and operative time, in patients without clinical signs of venous congestion, is very low (GRADE ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ ⊝), and low on and surgical takebacks (GRADE ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ ⊝). Twenty-one studies presented data on strategies and overall certainty of evidence for using radiological findings, preoperative measurements, and clinical risk factors to make decisions on venous supercharging is very low (GRADE ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝).

CONCLUSION: There is little scientific evidence for how to predict in which cases, without clinical signs of venous congestion, venous supercharging should be performed. The complication rate might be lower in patients in which a prophylactic venous anastomosis has been performed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42022353591).

PMID:38044454 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-023-03254-9

J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Dec 4;18(1):924. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-04394-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative 3D imaging using cone-beam CT (CBCT) provides improved assessment of implant position and reduction in spine surgery, is used for navigated surgical techniques, and therefore leads to improved quality of care. However, in some cases the image quality is not sufficient to correctly assess pedicle screw position and reduction, especially due to metal artifacts. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changing the acquisition trajectory of the CBCT in relation to the pedicle screw position during dorsal instrumentation of the spine can reduce metal artifacts and consequently improve image quality as well as clinical assessability on the artificial bone model.

METHODS: An artificial bone model was instrumented with pedicle screws in the thoracic and lumbar spine region (Th10 to L5). Then, the acquisition trajectory of the CBCT (Cios Spin, Siemens, Germany) to the pedicle screws was systematically changed in 5° steps in angulation (- 30° to + 30°) and swivel (- 30° to + 30°). Subsequently, radiological evaluation was performed by three blinded, qualified raters on image quality using 9 questions (including anatomical structures, implant position, appearance of artifacts) with a score (1-5 points). For statistical evaluation, the image quality of the different acquisition trajectories was compared to the standard acquisition trajectory and checked for significant differences.

RESULTS: The angulated acquisition trajectory increased the score for subjective image quality (p < 0.001) as well as the clinical assessability of pedicle screw position (p < 0.001) highly significant with particularly strong effects on subjective image quality in the vertebral pedicle region (d = 1.06). Swivel of the acquisition trajectory significantly improved all queried domains of subjective image quality (p < 0.001) as well as clinical assessability of pedicle screw position (p < 0.001). The data show that maximizing the angulation or swivel angle toward 30° provides the best tested subjective image quality. Angulation and swivel of the acquisition trajectory result in a clinically relevant improvement in image quality in intraoperative 3D imaging (CBCT) during dorsal instrumentation of the spine.

PMID:38044441 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-023-04394-0

Brain Imaging Behav. 2023 Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s11682-023-00832-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) may result in the disruption of brain functional networks and is strongly associated with cognitive impairment. However, the neural mechanisms affecting the neurocognitive function after TAI remain to be elucidated. We collected the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 28 patients with TAI and 28 matched healthy controls. An automated anatomical labeling atlas was used to construct a functional brain connectome. We utilized a graph theoretical approach to investigate the alterations in global and regional network topologies, and network-based statistics analysis was utilized to localize the connected networks more precisely. The current study revealed that patients with TAI and healthy controls both showed a typical small-world topology of the functional brain networks. However, patients with TAI exhibited a significantly lower local efficiency compared to healthy controls, whereas no significant difference emerged in other small-world properties (Cp, Lp, γ, λ, and σ) and global efficiency. Moreover, patients with TAI exhibited aberrant nodal centralities in some regions, including the frontal lobes, parietal lobes, caudate nucleus, and cerebellum bilaterally, and right olfactory cortex. The network-based statistics results showed alterations in the long-distance functional connections in the subnetwork in patients with TAI, involving these brain regions with significantly altered nodal centralities. These alterations suggest that brain networks of individuals with TAI present aberrant topological attributes that are associated with cognitive impairment, which could be potential biomarkers for predicting cognitive dysfunction and help understanding the neuropathological mechanisms in patients with TAI.

PMID:38044412 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-023-00832-z

Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2023 Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s13346-023-01488-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chronic and allergic rhinosinusitis impacts approximately 12% of the global population. Challenges in rhinosinusitis treatment include paranasal sinus inaccessibility and variability in delivery efficiency among individuals. This study addresses these challenges of drug delivery by developing a high-efficiency, low-variability protocol for nasal drop delivery to the ostiomeatal complex (OMC) and maxillary sinus. Patient-specific nasal casts were dissected to reveal the configurations of conchae and meatus, providing insights into anatomical features amendable for sinus delivery. Fluorescent dye-enhanced videos visualized the dynamic liquid translocation in transparent nasal casts, allowing real-time assessment and quick adjustment to delivery parameters. Dosimetry to the OMC and maxillary sinus were quantified as drop count and mass using a precision scale. Key delivery factors, including the device type, formulation, and head-chin orientation, were systematically investigated in a cohort of ten nasal casts. Results show that both the squeeze bottle and soft-mist nasal pump yielded notably low doses to the OMC with high variability, and no dose from these two devices was detected within the maxillary sinuses. In contrast, the proposed approach, which included a curved nozzle surpassing the nasal valve and leveraged gravity-driven liquid translocation along the lateral nasal wall, delivered significant doses to the OMC and maxillary sinus. Iterative experimentations identified the optimal head tilt to be 40° and chin tilt to be° from the lateral recumbent position. Statistical analyses established the drop count required for effective OMC/sinus delivery. The proposed delivery protocol holds the potential to enhance chronic rhinosinusitis treatment outcomes with low variability. The dual role of nasal anatomy in posing challenges and offering opportunities highlights the need for future investigations using diverse formulations in a larger cohort of nasal models. Optimized gravity-driven intranasal drop administration delivers significant doses to the ostiomeatal complex and maxillary sinus.

PMID:38044376 | DOI:10.1007/s13346-023-01488-4