Category: Nevin Manimala

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2023 Jul 18;23(1):362. doi: 10.1186/s12872-023-03395-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a substantial contributor to the global burden of disease. Observational studies have suggested that leisure sedentary behaviours (LSB) are related to the risk of VTE; however, the causal role of LSB in VTE remains unclear.

METHODS: Using data obtained from genome-wide association studies in the UK Biobank (N = 422,218), we identified 84, 21, and 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to sedentary television (TV) watching, computer use, and driving, respectively. These SNPs were employed as instrumental variables. Summary statistics for SNP-VTE associations was obtained from the FinnGen study (5,403 cases and 130,235 controls). Two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses were performed using inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger,weighted median, and weighted mode approaches. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure robustness of the results.

RESULTS: The main IVW approach demonstrated a positive association between the genetically predicted sedentary TV watching and the risk of VTE [odds ratio (OR):1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.02-1.80, P = 0.039]. However, no significant association was observed for genetically predicted sedentary computer use or driving and VTE risk. The results from our series of sensitivity analyses, including Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier method, further supported these findings.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of an association between genetically predicted sedentary TV watching and the risk of VTE. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying causal mechanisms.

PMID:37464328 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-023-03395-5

Br J Dermatol. 2023 Jul 18:ljad243. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad243. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Facial angiofibromas (FA) are a major feature of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).Topical rapamycin can successfully treat FA. A new stabilised cream formulation which protects rapamycin from oxidation has been developed in 0.5% and 1% concentrations.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of a novel stabilised topical rapamycin cream formulation.

METHODS: This multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-response phase II/III study with a parallel design included participants aged 6 – 65 years with FA of mild or moderate severity using the investigator’s global assessment (IGA) scale.Participants were randomised to one of three treatment arms: topical rapamycin 0.5%, 1%, or placebo. Treatment was applied once daily for 26 weeks. Safety and efficacy measures were assessed at days 14, 56, 98, 140 and 182.The primary endpoint was the percentage of subjects achieving ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ IGA scores after 26 weeks of treatment. Secondary measures included facial angiofibroma severity index (FASI) and subject and clinician-reported percentage-based improvement.Safety measures included the incidence of treatment emergent adverse event and blood rapamycin concentration changes over time.

RESULTS: Participants (107) were randomised to receive either rapamycin 1% (n = 33), 0.5% (n = 36), or placebo (n = 38). All treated participants were included in the final analysis.The percentage of subjects with a two-grade IGA improvement was greater in the 0.5% treatment group (11.1%) and 1% group (9.1%) than the placebo group (5.3%). However, this was not statistically significant (0.5%: OR 1.71, 95% CI 0.36-8.18, p = 0.499; 1%: OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.33-8.40, p = 0.530). Subjects with at least a one-grade IGA improvement were significantly different compared to placebo (0.5%: 55.6%, OR 4.73, 95% CI 1.59-14.10, p = 0.005; 1%: 60.6%, OR 5.14, 95% CI 1.70-15.57, p = 0.004; Placebo: 23.7%). Skin adverse reactions were more common in patients following rapamycin application (64%) compared to placebo (29%).

CONCLUSION: Both 0.5% and 1% rapamycin cream formulations are well tolerated treatments, and either strength can lead to clinical benefit in the treatment of FA.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03826628.

PMID:37463422 | DOI:10.1093/bjd/ljad243

Genome Biol Evol. 2023 Jul 18:evad134. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evad134. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ALE and GeneRax are tools for probabilistic gene tree-species tree reconciliation. Based on a common underlying statistical model of how gene trees evolve along species trees, these methods rely on gene versus species tree discordance to infer gene duplication, transfer and loss events, map gene family origins and root species trees. Published analyses have used these methods to root species trees of Archaea, Bacteria and several eukaryotic groups, as well as to infer ancestral gene repertoires. However, it was recently suggested that reconciliation-based estimates of duplication and transfer events using the ALE/GeneRax model were unreliable, with potential implications for species tree rooting. Here, we assess these criticisms and find that the methods are accurate when applied to simulated data and in generally good agreement with alternative methodological approaches on empirical data. In particular, ALE recovers variation in gene duplication and transfer frequencies across lineages that is consistent with the known biology of studied clades. In plants and opisthokonts, ALE recovers the consensus species tree root; in Bacteria – where there is less certainty about the root position – ALE agrees with alternative approaches on the most likely root region. Overall, ALE and related approaches are promising tools for studying genome evolution.

PMID:37463417 | DOI:10.1093/gbe/evad134

Am J Gastroenterol. 2023 Jul 19. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002405. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is rising in the United States because of an increase in high-risk drinking, but population-level ALD cost is unknown. Our aim was to project the direct and indirect costs associated with ALD in the US population through 2040.

METHODS: We utilized a previously validated microsimulation model of alcohol consumption and ALD with model parameters estimated from publicly available data sources, including the National Epidemiologic Survey Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and published studies informing the impact of alcohol consumption on ALD severity in the United States resident population. The simulated scenario included current and projected ALD-associated costs.

RESULTS: From 2022-2040, the ALD is projected to cost $880 billion; $355 billion in direct healthcare- related costs and $525 billion in lost labor and economic consumption. The annual cost of ALD is projected to increase from $31 billion in 2022 to $66 billion (118% increase) in 2040. While the female population makes up 29% of these costs in 2022, by 2040 on a per annum basis, female costs would be 43% of the total annual expenditure.

DISCUSSION: Increased consumption of alcohol in the US population, especially in females, will cause a steep rise in the economic burden of alcohol-associated liver disease in the United States. These findings highlight the need for planners and policymakers to plan for the increased impact of liver disease in the United States.

PMID:37463414 | DOI:10.14309/ajg.0000000000002405

Menopause. 2023 Jul 18. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Testing the hypothesis that a sleep-light intervention, which phase-advances melatonin rhythms, will improve perimenopausal-postmenopausal (P-M; by follicle-stimulating hormone) depression.

METHODS: In at-home environments, we compared two contrasting interventions: (1) an active phase-advance intervention: one night of advanced/restricted sleep from 9 pm to 1 am, followed by 8 weeks of morning bright white light for 60 min/d within 30 minutes of awakening, and (2) a control phase-delay intervention: one night of delayed/restricted sleep (sleep from 3 to 7 am) followed by 8 weeks of evening bright white light for 60 min/d within 90 minutes of bedtime. We tested 17 P-M participants, 9 normal controls and 8 depressed participants (DPs) (by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Fifth Edition] criteria). Clinicians assessed mood by structured interviews and subjective mood ratings. Participants wore actigraphs to measure sleep and activity and collected overnight urine samples for the melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT), before, during, and after interventions.

RESULTS: Baseline depressed mood correlated with delayed 6-SMT offset time (cessation of melatonin metabolite [6-SMT] secretion) (r = +0.733, P = 0.038). After phase-advance intervention versus phase-delay intervention, 6-SMT offset (start of melatonin and 6-SMT decrease) was significantly advanced in DPs (mean ± SD, 2 h 15 min ± 12 min; P = 0.042); advance in 6-SMT acrophase (time of maximum melatonin and 6-SMT secretion) correlated positively with mood improvement (r = +0.978, P = 0.001). Mood improved (+70%, P = 0.007) by both 2 and 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings reveal significantly phase-delayed melatonin rhythms in DP versus normal control P-M women. Phase-advancing melatonin rhythms improves mood in association with melatonin advance. Thus, sleep-light interventions may potentially offer safe, rapid, nonpharmaceutical, well-tolerated, affordable home treatments for P-M depression.

PMID:37463404 | DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000002216

Wiad Lek. 2023;76(6):1478-1484. doi: 10.36740/WLek202306122.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Assessment of the hazard to the population when consuming treated crops by using different technologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Unmanned aerial vehicle XAG XPlanet 2020 equipped with four rotating rotors, which allows to keep in the air a 20-liter tank was used for spraying field; a manned aircraft AN-2 aggregated with a serial sprayer. High-clearance rod treatment of sunflower and rapeseed crops was carried out by using a PLA MAP II 2010 tractor.

RESULTS: Results: When the herbicide was applied by aerial application with UAV, the initial content of diquat dibromide in treated rapeseed and sunflower plants on the day of treatment was significantly higher than in the soil under crops (р≤0.05). The analysis of the diquat content dynamics in sunflower also showed a similar behavior of the a.i. in the plant after processing by another application methods: UAV, aerial and high-clearance rod treatment. The integral index of hazard when using pesticide-contaminated products (IIHPCPC) = ADD+С+ DT50 = 4+1+1 = 6 points. That is why, diquat dibromide can be classified according to this index can be classified as compound of 3rd hazard class.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: As a result of the conducted researches, it was established that the content of diquat in rapeseed and sunflower samples grown with the Reglone Air 200 SL application (after treatment and before harvesting) was below the maximum residue levels in those crops. There are no statistically significant differences in the behavior of diquat dibromide when applying by different methods of application (UAV, aerial, high-clearance rod treatment) in different agro-climatic zones of Ukraine.

PMID:37463385 | DOI:10.36740/WLek202306122

Wiad Lek. 2023;76(6):1470-1477. doi: 10.36740/WLek202306121.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to reveal the potential of Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a factor in strengthening the students’ mental health (MH) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The experimental work was carried out in four stages: 1) preparation – substantiation of its scientific and theoretical principles; 2) ascertaining – development of prognostic tools, conducting an on-line survey of students, an analysis of its results; 3) formative – training with the experimental group participants following the author’s methodology; 4) control – survey of experimental group members, determination of experimental results. About 230 students of Ukraine took part in the survey. The statistical processing of the survey results was performed by formal mathematical calculations and calculating Student’s t-criterion in order to verify the equality of the mean dependent values in different samples.

RESULTS: Results: The presented results of the research and experiment prove that Emotional Intelligence, in particular its four identified components (іnformation, аdaptivebehaviour, self-control, empathy), can be an effective factor not only in maintaining university students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in their adaptation to other adverse conditions. A comparison of the results of our research with similar sociological research shows the similarity of problems and changes in the students’ mental health all over the world during the pandemic. The materials tested during the development of prognostic tools and training methods can be taken into account for the organization of such research and training activities.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The presented results of the research and experiment prove that EI, in particular its four identified components, can be an effective factor not only in maintaining university students’ MH during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in their adaptation to other adverse conditions. A comparison of the results of our research with similar sociological research shows the similarity of problems and changes in the students’ MH all over the world during the pandemic. The materials tested during the development of prognostic tools and training methods are publicly available on the Internet, so they can be taken into account for the organization of such research and training activities. At the same time, we insist that the pandemic should not only intensify the study of changes in MH, but also stimulate the search for effective means to strengthen it. Sir Winston Churchill’s eloquent appeal “Never let a good crisis go to waste” should be a guideline in solving this problem.

PMID:37463384 | DOI:10.36740/WLek202306121

Wiad Lek. 2023;76(6):1428-1435. doi: 10.36740/WLek202306115.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To investigate the impact of professional stress on the mental health of law enforcement officers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The research involved two groups of law enforcement officers (aged 25-40): the first group with up to 7 years of service activities (n = 52), the second group – 8-15 years (n = 48). Research methods: bibliosemantic, questionnaire, testing, method of system analysis and generalization, mathematical and statistical.

RESULTS: Results: It was found that law enforcement officers of both groups identified indicators of a significant professional workload, lack of adequate rest, and the nature of communication with participants in professional relationships among the factors of professional stress. It is proved that the mental health of law enforcement officers deteriorates under the influence of professional stress with the experience of their professional activities. Law enforcement officers with 8-15 years of service experience have significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) worse indicators of anxiety, aggressiveness, motivation, personal detachment, impulsive¬ness, vigor, and work efficiency.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It was established that the professional stress of law enforcement officers is the result of an imbalance between the internal resources of the individual and the requirements of the external environment, embodied in the peculiarities of law enforcement activities. Law enforcement officers are char¬acterized by the presence of professional stress of average and high severity, which increases with the experience of their service activities. A set of measures was proposed to provide psychological assistance to law enforcement officers to effectively counteract professional stress and improve their mental health.

PMID:37463378 | DOI:10.36740/WLek202306115

Wiad Lek. 2023;76(6):1406-1412. doi: 10.36740/WLek202306112.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To perform a clinical analysis of bronchiectasis in adults, to analyze the effectiveness of nebulizer therapy with hypertonic NaCl solution with hyaluronic acid.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: All patients were performed clinical-functional examination (MRC dyspnea index, Sp O2, 6-minute walking test, external respiration function); calculated the index BODE, analyzed the SGRQ, studied the results of sputum. Statistical data analysis was performed using the Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 MSO 16.0.13530.2040418 package of statistical functions.

RESULTS: Results: The main symptom in 100% of cases was chronic cough with production of sputum. Patients were concerned about shortness of breath (91.7%), episodic hemoptysis (29.2%), systemic symptoms (fatigue, weight loss). Hypertonic NaCl solution has a direct mucolytic effect, osmotic and anti-edematous effect. Protection of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract makes hyaluronic acid an ideal additional component of hypertonic saline solution. All patients showed a positive effect of treatment immediately. After 2 weeks, the respiratory rate decreased, the FEV1 index increased at 8.6 (p<0.05), SpO2 increased up to 93.75 ± 7.13%, the number of points according to the SGRQ decreased, BODE index also decreased.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Leading clinical signs of bronchiectasis were: a chronic cough with daily sputum production (100% of patients), shortness of breath (91.7%). The use of nebulizer inhalations decreased shortness of breath at 17.6% (р<0.05), improved external respiratory function indices (FVCL increased at 9.7% (р<0.01), FEV1 at 8.6% (р<0.01)) and blood oxygen saturation increased at 4.9% (р<0.05)). The offered complex increased tolerance to physical exertion (the 6-minute walk test and 4-year survival (BODE prognostic index).

PMID:37463375 | DOI:10.36740/WLek202306112