Category: Nevin Manimala

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2023 Jul 23. doi: 10.1007/s00590-023-03645-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Popliteomeniscal fascicles (PMFs) are a component of the popliteal hiatus complex in the knee, and their injury primarily affects young athletes participating in sports activities involving twisting movements. The identification of PMFs tears presents a challenge, often accompanied by lateral pain and a locking sensation. The objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis is to enhance the suspicion and recognition of PMFs tears, aiming to facilitate the treatment of this condition, particularly in symptomatic young patients.

METHODS: A comprehensive search, focused on studies examining PMFs injuries and their treatment, was conducted in four databases, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The ROBINS-I tool was used to evaluate the risks of bias. The PRISMA flow diagram was used to conduct the research and select the included studies. A meta-analysis was conducted for the Lysholm score, the Tegner Activity Scale, and the subjective IKDC score. The present SR and meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO.

RESULTS: Five clinical studies were included in the final analysis, comprising 96 patients. All the patients underwent a preoperative MRI assessment and a diagnostic arthroscopy to detect the PMFs tears, with a subsequent surgical procedure either open or arthroscopically performed. Surgery was associated with the resolution of symptoms. A statistically significant improvement in the Lysholm score (p: 0.0005) and the subjective IKDC score (p: 0.003) after the surgical procedure with respect to the preoperative evaluation was found.

CONCLUSION: This SR and meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in the Lysholm score and subjective IKDC score following surgery for PMFs tears. However, controversy persists regarding the optimal surgical approach, with current literature favoring arthroscopic procedures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID:37481735 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-023-03645-4

Eur Radiol. 2023 Jul 22. doi: 10.1007/s00330-023-09973-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Quality assurance (QA) of image interpretation plays a key role in screening and diagnostic mammography, maintaining minimum standards and supporting continuous improvement in interpreting images. However, the QA structure across Europe shows considerable variation. The European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) conducted a survey among the members to collect information on radiologists’ preferences regarding QA measures in mammography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online survey consisting of 25 questions was distributed to all EUSOBI members and national breast radiology bodies in Europe. The questions were designed to collect demographic characteristics, information on responders’ mammography workload and data about QA measures currently used in their country. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis, the χ² test, linear regression, and Durbin-Watson statistic test.

RESULTS: In total, 251 breast radiologists from 34 countries completed the survey. Most respondents were providing both screening and symptomatic services (137/251, 54.6%), working in an academic hospital (85/251, 33.9%) and reading 1000-4999 cases per year (109/251, 43.4%). More than half of them (133/251, 53%) had established QA measures in their workplace. Although less than one-third (71/251, 28.3%) had to participate in regular performance testing, the vast majority (190/251, 75.7%) agreed that a mandatory test would be helpful to improve their skills.

CONCLUSION: QA measures were in place for more than half of the respondents working in screening and diagnostic mammography to evaluate their breast imaging performance. Although there were substantial differences between countries, the importance of having QA in the workplace and implemented was widely acknowledged by radiologists.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Although several quality assurance (QA) measures of image interpretation are recommended by European bodies or national organisations, the QA in mammography is quite heterogenous between countries and reporting settings, and not always actively implemented across Europe.

KEY POINTS: The first survey that presents radiologists’ preferences regarding QA measures of image interpretation in mammography. Quality assurance measures in the workplace are better-established for breast screening compared to diagnostic mammography. Radiologists consider that performance tests would help to improve their mammography interpretation skills.

PMID:37481690 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-023-09973-7

Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 22;13(1):11873. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38708-3.

ABSTRACT

Impairment in predictive processes gained a lot of attention in recent years as an explanation for autistic symptoms. However, empirical evidence does not always underpin this framework. Thus, it is unclear what aspects of predictive processing are affected in autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we tested autistic adults on a task in which participants acquire probability-based regularities (that is, a statistical learning task). Twenty neurotypical and 22 autistic adults learned a probabilistic, temporally distributed regularity for about 40 min. Using frequentist and Bayesian methods, we found that autistic adults performed comparably to neurotypical adults, and the dynamics of learning did not differ between groups either. Thus, our study provides evidence for intact statistical learning in autistic adults. Furthermore, we discuss potential ways this result can extend the scope of the predictive processing framework, noting that atypical processing might not always mean a deficit in performance.

PMID:37481676 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-38708-3

Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2023 Jul 22;9(1):128. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01278-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fussy eating is most often a developmentally typical behaviour, generally presenting during toddlerhood. However, up to half of parents of young children are concerned about fussy eating, and this concern may mediate the use of nonresponsive feeding practises, such as coercive or unstructured feeding and using food to reward eating. Despite the high prevalence of parental concern for fussy eating and the negative impacts nonresponsive feeding practises have on children’s health and diets, no previous digital intervention to improve the feeding practises of parents of toddlers concerned about fussy eating has been evaluated.

AIM: This article describes the protocol of a randomised controlled feasibility pilot aiming to evaluate Fussy Eating Rescue, a purely web app based intervention for parents of toddlers. The primary aim is to investigate feasibility and acceptability; secondary aims are to explore indications of intervention effect on parents’ feeding practises or children’s eating behaviours.

METHODS: Fussy Eating Rescue features include: (1) a Tracker, that allows parents to track repeated offers of food, (2) Topics, providing information on fussy eating, effective feeding strategies, and general nutrition, (3) Rescues, containing quick references to material supporting Topics contents, (4) Recipes, and (5) SMS notifications. Parents of toddlers (12-36 months old, n = 50) who have concerns about fussy eating will be recruited via Facebook. Parents will be randomised to an intervention group, which receives access to the app for 6 weeks, or to wait-listed control. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 6 weeks after app use, using online questionnaires and app usage statistics. Primary outcomes include participant retention rate, intervention engagement, app usability, perceived ease in using the app, perceived usefulness of the app, and user satisfaction. Secondary outcome measures include parents’ feeding practises and children’s eating behaviours.

DISCUSSION: Results will inform whether Fussy Eating Rescue is a feasible way to engage parents concerned for their toddler’s fussy eating behaviours. If feasible and acceptable to users, a larger trial will further examine the efficacy of the Fussy Eating app in improving parents’ feeding practises and children’s eating behaviours.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 15 July, 2021 (ACTRN12621000925842).

PMID:37481664 | DOI:10.1186/s40814-023-01278-2

Nat Commun. 2023 Jul 22;14(1):4434. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40102-6.

ABSTRACT

European windstorms cause socioeconomic losses due to wind damage. Projections of future losses from such storms are subject to uncertainties from the frequency and tracks of the storms, their intensities and definitions thereof, and socio-economic scenarios. We use two storm severity indices applied to objectively identified extratropical cyclone footprints from a multi-model ensemble of state-of-the-art climate models under different future socio-economic scenarios. Here we show storm frequency increases across northern and central Europe, where the meteorological storm severity index more than doubles. The population-weighted storm severity index more than triples, due to projected population increases. Adapting to the increasing wind speeds using future damage thresholds, the population weighted storm severity index increases are only partially offset, despite a reduction in the meteorological storm severity through adaptation. Through following lower emissions scenarios, the future increase in risk is reduced, with the population-weighted storm severity index increase more than halved.

PMID:37481655 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-40102-6

Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 22;13(1):11851. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-39156-9.

ABSTRACT

Formation damage poses a widespread challenge in the oil and gas industry, leading to diminished permeability, flow rates, and overall well productivity. Acidizing is a commonly employed technique aimed at mitigating damage and enhancing permeability. In this study, to predict the permeability after acidizing in oil and gas reservoirs, three machine learning models, namely artificial neural networks, random forest, and XGBoost, along with genetic programming were used to estimate permeability changes after acidizing. These models are utilized to estimate permeability changes following acidizing operations. Training of the models involved a dataset comprising 218 acidizing operations conducted in diverse reservoirs across Iran. The input parameters, namely permeability, porosity, skin factor, calcite mineral fraction, acid injection rate, and injected acid volume, were optimized through the use of a genetic algorithm. Statistical and graphical analysis of the results demonstrates that genetic programming outperformed the other machine learning techniques, yielding superior performance with R square and RMSE values of 0.82 and 17.65, respectively. Nevertheless, the other models also exhibited commendable performance, surpassing an R square value of 0.73. The post-acidizing permeability data obtained from core flooding experiments conducted on carbonate and sandstone cores was utilized to validate the models. The genetic programming model demonstrates an average error of 21.1%. The evaluation of post-acidizing permeability using genetic programming, in comparison with the results obtained from the core-flood test, revealed errors of 22.95% and 32.4% for carbonate and sandstone cores, respectively. Furthermore, a comparison between the calculated post-acidizing permeability derived from the GP model and previous studies indicated errors within the range of 8.6-26.59%. The findings highlight the potential of genetic programming and machine learning algorithms in accurately predicting post-acidizing permeability, thereby aiding in acidizing design, effectiveness assessment, and ultimately enhancing oil and gas production rates.

PMID:37481625 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-39156-9

BDJ Open. 2023 Jul 22;9(1):34. doi: 10.1038/s41405-023-00160-w.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs) are contaminated by various species of microorganisms. DUWLs should be disinfected appropriately to control microbial contamination. This study investigated the effectiveness of devices continuously releasing iodine to control microbial contamination in DUWLs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten dental chair units (DCU) at Chulalongkorn University were randomized into the iodine and control groups. After setting iodine treatment devices, the DCU was allowed to operate normally. 25 ml of water from airotors lines were collected weekly for enumerating bacteria. The viability of biofilms in DUWLs was quantified by ATP testing kit. The amount of iodine released into the procedural water was also quantified.

RESULTS: The continuous presence of iodine could significantly control bacterial contamination in the DUWL to be less than 500 CFU/mL, the standard level recommended by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Iodine treatment can reduce bacterial CFU up to 98-100%. Biofilm viability in the iodine group was slightly lower than that of the control group though not statistically significant. After eleven months, the average iodine release was measured to be 3.6 ppm which is still effective in controlling bacterial contamination.

CONCLUSION: Continuously supplying iodine in DUWLs effectively controls microbial contamination.

PMID:37481614 | DOI:10.1038/s41405-023-00160-w

Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 22;13(1):11864. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38973-2.

ABSTRACT

While sustained-release buprenorphine (BSR) is used as a long-lasting opioid analgesic in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), there are no published studies on pharmaceutical-grade extended-release buprenorphine options such as Ethiqa XR (EXR) for this species. However, BSR is a compounded product and has been reported to cause injection site reactions in multiple species, including marmosets. Additionally, now with the availability of EXR, a pharmaceutical-grade veterinary product, the use of BSR in laboratory animals is not compliant with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) unless scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC. We compared pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of BSR (0.15 mg/kg) and EXR (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) administered subcutaneously to adult marmosets. Blood was collected by venipuncture of the saphenous vein at multiple time points (0.25-72 h) and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). EXR between 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg resulted in a dose-dependent increase in C_max (1.43-2.51 ng/mL) and were not statistically different from BSR (1.82 ng/mL). T_max, lambda_z, and t_1/2 were not statistically different between formulations. Mean plasma buprenorphine concentrations for BSR and EXR exceeded the therapeutic threshold (0.1 ng/mL) within 0.25 h and lasted for > 72 h. Mild sedation, but neither respiratory depression nor ataxia, was observed for both formulations. BSR injection sites had significantly higher histopathological scores compared to EXR. Video recordings for monitoring drug-induced behavioral changes showed increased animal activity levels after BSR and EXR versus saline controls. Norbuprenorphine, a buprenorphine metabolite associated with respiratory depression, was detected in the plasma after BSR and EXR administration as well as by in vitro liver microsome assays. In conclusion, we recommend using EXR over BSR as a long-lasting buprenorphine analgesic in marmosets because EXR is a pharmaceutical-grade formulation that is compliant with FDA guidelines and the Guide as well as exhibits comparable PK and safety profiles as BSR.

PMID:37481609 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-38973-2

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2023 Jul 22;9(1):116. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00562-5.

ABSTRACT

Despite growing epidemiological evidence, the relationship between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and cancer has not been conclusively demonstrated, and related studies are scarce in the Asian population. We aimed to determine the association between PD and subsequent development of various cancers from longitudinal data of a representative sample of Korean adults aged ≥40 years. We retrospectively identified 8381 patients diagnosed with PD from 2002 to 2019 using claims data among 514,866 people of random samples from the Korean National Health Insurance database. We sampled 33,524 age-, sex-, income-, and residential area-matched participants without PD from the same database. The longitudinal associations between PD and overall cancer, as well as 10 common types of cancer, were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of all cancer types was 0.63 (95% confidence interval = 0.57-0.69) in patients with PD compared with matched controls. The aHRs of gastric, thyroid, colorectal, lung, hepatic, and pancreatic cancer and hematological malignancy were 0.69 (0.56-0.85), 0.60 (0.39-0.93), 0.56 (0.44-0.70), 0.71 (0.58-0.84), 0.64 (0.48-0.86), 0.37 (0.23-0.60), and 0.56 (0.36-0.87), respectively. The associations of bladder, gallbladder and biliary duct, and kidney cancer with PD were not statistically significant. Our findings show inverse associations between overall cancer and most cancer types in patients with PD. These inverse associations and their pathogeneses merit further investigation.

PMID:37481603 | DOI:10.1038/s41531-023-00562-5

Neurosurg Rev. 2023 Jul 22;46(1):182. doi: 10.1007/s10143-023-02088-z.

ABSTRACT

Cross Sectional Study/Online Survey. In this study, we sought to assess stress, psychological distress, resilience, and coping strategies among spine surgeons in German-speaking countries. Recent studies have reported high rates of stress and burnout among surgeons. A survey via Survey Monkey™ was conducted among spine surgeons practicing in German-speaking countries using validated questionnaires for perceived stress, mental burden, resilience, and quality of life. Data on working situation and demographics were also collected. 582 surgeons responded to the survey, representing 15% of those surveyed. 79% of respondents were satisfied with their professional success. Mental burden was higher than in the general population, as was perceived stress. Chairpersons were exposed to the lowest levels of perceived stress and mental burden. Mental distress was high (GHQ ≥ 12) in 59% of residents and 27% chairpersons. Self-reported psychological resilience was higher than levels found in the general population and highest among chairpersons. Quality of life was comparable to levels reported in the general population. There were statistically significant correlations between perceived stress and mental burden scores (r _s = 0.65, p < 0.001). Career level (senior physicians vs. residents, OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.10-0.66), perceived stress (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.33-1.77), self-reported resilience (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.33-0.84), and mental composite score (SOR 0.86; 95% CI 0.83-0.90) were predictors of high mental burden. There was no interaction between perceived stress and resilience on mental burden (p = 0.835). Spine surgeons are exposed to higher levels of stress than the general population, which are associated with higher mental distress. More professional experience and higher levels of psychological resilience are associated with lower levels of stress.

PMID:37481596 | DOI:10.1007/s10143-023-02088-z